Editor:
I live in Westwood Village and agree with Terri Beauchamps' Jan. 16 letter. No matter how well the Mahogany Drive apartment complex will be managed, drug dealers can find a way in.
I see one possible solution. Residents of Westwood Village and some concerned parents could buy the property from the developer and gift it to the county as a park. I see a part as the only realistic use of that land.
The stadium lights and noise from sporting events make it a difficult place to sleep. The community doesn't need anymore traffic at the Highway 88 and Mahogany Drive intersection. It just wouldn't be a very desirable place to live.
Let's just find a way to make it a park.
Susan Richards
Minden
Editor:
Prior to April 2002, the Mahogany Drive site was owned by the Town of Minden. It was considered as a possible town yard but due to the limited area it was deemed unsuitable and offered for sale.
Several challenges existed with this site " the configuration, being a "gate way" to Westwood, and the proximity to the school. No other site in the county has as many vehicles, such limited driver experience and such a parking problem as the high school.
Greg Lynn made an offer for the site with, I believe, a condition of his purchase that the zoning be revised to allow a condominium project. He was proposing an "up scale" project of about a dozen units. It would involve a two story building and provide adequate on site parking within the project.
The Minden Town Board agenda for the Oct. 1, 2008, meeting showed a 7 p.m. item of a "request by Pacific West Communities for a 21 unit low-to-moderate income rental housing complex in the MFR zoning district on Mahogany Drive." No action was taken as the town board, per the request of Board President Ray Wilson, wanted to hear from the residents of Westwood.
At the November town board meeting many of residents were present. A number of objections were made with the major comment being, "great project but wrong location."
Pacific West Communities has to be complimented on making subsequent meetings with the Westwood residents to resolve some of the issues, but the site location remains as is due to the zoning change obtained by Mr. Lynn. Mr. Lynn got his zoning change and the property, but the Town of Minden and the residents did not get the "up scale" limited number of condo units as originally proposed.
Maybe the existing rules, regulation, etc., need to be changed to provide for some protection to the community when requests for zoning changes contain proposals that are not met, or not met in a specific time frame. Maybe the party making, or initiating, the request should have to post a bond covering the meeting of the proposals.
One can also wonder what impact the sale of the property to Pacific West Communities and subsequent 21-unit project might have had if it had occurred during Mr. Lynn's primary campaign for county commissioner.
Sanford E. Deyo
Minden
EDITOR:
Ben Oxley was taken from us way too early. His life had just begun with the love of his life, Melissa, and his daughter, Alyssa. Ben is missed every day. Ben was a part of our family for years.
He was a wonderful father, husband, son brother and friend. There is not a day that goes by that we don't all think about him.
We all love and miss you, Ben. Happy 37th birthday (Jan. 20).
See you in heaven one day.
If anyone has information in the murder of Ben on Feb. 21, 2008, please come forward. Call Douglas County Sheriff's Investigator Ron Elges at 782-9910.
Ben Oxley's family and friends
Minden
Editor:
Pasquale's Two Guys From Italy has recently experienced a terrible loss. Roselyn Miller our beautiful, sweet, loving friend, waitress and part of our family passed away. Rose was a gentle and kind woman she was part of the foundation of our restaurant and our lives. She will be greatly missed and forever in our hearts. We have placed a rose on each table in memory of our loving Rose. Our hearts go out to her family and all of her beloved customers and friends.
Tomacina Hochgurtel
Gardnerville
Editor:
It seems that the new year has come and gone so quickly. I wanted to be sure to thank, and mention a wonderful group of performers who visited the Douglas County Senior Center back in December. The group represented the performing arts project of Northern Nevada from Minden.
The performers ranged from toddlers to young adults, both boys and girls. The children danced sang and performed a piece from a musical. We all want to say thank you for the holiday cheer. You all were wonderful.
Joan Morris
Minden
Editor:
Dog Town Canine Rescue would like to extend its thanks to the Douglas County Animal Care and Services agency for its outstanding effort in helping us find one of our rescued dogs that escaped her foster home in Indian Hills on Jan. 10, 2009. The dog, Camille, a 2-year-old pit bull, had eluded a Dog Town search crew for a week, but a homeowner's call to animal services on Jan. 16, and the quick response by Animal Control Officer Liz Begovich, saved her life. Camille had been hit by a car and sustained serious injuries, but she is now safe because of the dedication of animal care and services.
The people of Douglas County are indeed fortunate to have this special agency available to them.
Mary Ann Marubashi
Carson City
