Residents, parks commissioners decry, deny Vicee plan

Westside resident Dave Saarem told the Carson City Parks and Recreation Commission, "The message is loud and clear: People don't want to see a lot more hillside development," referring to a survey conducted by the city last year pertaining to the Comprehensive Master Plan.

"The state is asking you to create value so they can create value," said another resident, Mark Paulakis, about the Vicee Canyon Specific Plan Area report.

These types of comments prompted Parks and Recreation commissioners on Tuesday to do something different from their usual recommendation or denial when asked to express an opinion about the Vicee Canyon plan: They decided not to recommend it, and then asked the Board of Supervisors to seek a change in state law.

Vicee is part of a school trust fund and managed by the Nevada Division of State Lands. Land owned by the trust fund can't be sold directly to another government agency, but must be put up for auction, according to the city.

The denial passed by a vote of 5-4. Those on the other side weren't necessarily recommending the plan; some just weren't enthusiastic about going outside of their normal purview.

"We make advisories about parks, recreation and trails," said Commissioner Tom Patton. His comment came soon after Commissioner Charlene Herst expressed her distaste for the plan because she didn't believe it would create "affordable housing."

"The law doesn't permit sale to other government agencies," said Supervisor Pete Livermore, the board's representative on the commission. "This proposal, if approved, would up-price the land."

Assembly Bill 312, signed by Gov. Kenny Guinn last year, was created after land adjacent to McCarran International Airport was swapped to a real estate developer, who then sold it for a lucrative profit. The bill requires that government land sales be done by public auction. Cities can't buy land for more than fair-market value, and bidding doesn't guarantee that property won't exceed that price.

The commissioners would like to see something done by legislators to allow for an exception for land deals between government entities.

The Vicee plan, created by the city and state, deals mostly with how to control potential development of the land, which is 267 acres in west Carson City next to Western Nevada Community College. It also designates specific areas for various recreation uses and provides plans for four neighborhood parks. These are the areas of the report the commissioners were asked to consider.

Residents expressed wariness about the plan, if not outright opposition, about such areas as equestrian access, access to the Sierra and road crossings through designated greenways.

Last week, members of the city's Open Space Advisory Committee recommended the proposal to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. The decision by the Parks and Recreation doesn't stop the process.

-- Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.