Dayton residents had their first chance to weigh in on the new countywide master plan Wednesday, but some remained skeptical about whether their advice would be followed.
The county planning department held an open house 3-8 p.m. Wednesday, one of a series they have held throughout the county.
Planning Commissioner Ray Fierro said past experience has left many Dayton residents suspicious.
He said that when the Dayton master plan was done in 2002, residents commented, but by the time the plan reached the county commissioners, developers weighed in and changes they wanted were made.
But Fierro said this time he believes the Lyon County Planning Department is sincere in seeking public comments.
"I think they learned from the last time and will listen to people now," he said.
Dayton residents Barbara Peck and Susan Whitford were more wary.
"I think the people were ignored in the last master plan, so I'm somewhat skeptical about whether they will take our comments seriously, or if the plan will be driven by large landowners and what they want," Peck said.
Whitford said it might not be the same master plan once it gets to the level of the commissioners.
"This looks real good on paper, and they write 'comprehensive' everywhere, but when it gets down to Yerington, it's not comprehensive," she said.
The open house featured posted information on land use, transportation, open space and other issues. The department shared space with the Dayton State Park officials who wanted to get the public's perspective on a master plan for the park.
Rob Loveberg, Lyon County Planning director, said there had been between 40 and 50 residents by 6:30 p.m.
"Most people are interested in finding out what the process is going to be like, and then about their individual neighborhoods," he said.
He couldn't say what the majority of residents who attended wanted to see in the master plan.
"We need to go over the comment forms," he said. "Most people are taking the comment forms home to fill out."
Loveberg said in the short term, the county will use the responses to determine primary issues for each neighborhood.
He said the open houses are just the first step in the process, and that residents can call or e-mail their concerns.
The week of April 9, Loveberg said, they will have "visioning" workshops, with dates, times and places yet to be determined.
Sheila Aerick, of Dayton, didn't want to pull the campground out of the Dayton State park. As for the rest of the plan, she said, "I'm all for keeping controlled growth."
To add comments
CALL: (775) 463-6592 in Yerington or (775) 246-6140 in Dayton
E-MAIL: planning@lyon-county.org.
On the Net: www.lyon-county.org
Visioning workshop schedule
Workshops will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Mound House: April 9, Mound House Volunteer Fire Station, 56 Red Rock Road
Silver City: April 9, Silver City Volunteer Fire Station, 745 High St.
Mason Valley: April 10, Lyon County Board of Commissioners Chambers, 27 South Main Street, Yerington
Smith Valley: April 10, Smith Valley Library, 22 Day Lane, Smith
Stagecoach: April 11, Stagecoach Community Center, 8204 Highway 50 West
Dayton: April 11, Lyon County Utilities Conference Room, 34 Lakes Blvd.
Fernley: April 12, Fernley Public Library, 575 Silver Lace
Silver Springs: April 12, Silver Springs Senior/Community Center, 2945 Fort Churchill St.
• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.
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