Water resources are invaluable for the Lahontan Valley’s agriculture.
Steve Ranson / LVN
A public hearing to discuss and adopt Churchill County’s 2020 Master Plan is scheduled for April 21 during the commissioners afternoon meeting that begins at 11:15 p.m..
According to Churchill County, “The Master Plan provides the vision and goals for our community promoting smart growth and a strong and diversified economic base through programs and tools that protect our resources, our heritage, our open spaces, and agriculture.”
During 2019 and 2020, the Churchill County Planning Commission has conducted numerous workshops to review the 12 areas of the plan. The Planning Commission has obtained input from both the public and entities on the most current, accurate data, visioning, goals and policies for the next 20 years.
At the last commission meeting on April 1, Christian Spross, director of Public Works, Planning & Zoning reviewed the different chapters of the Master Plan, which serves as the county’s vision for the future. Every two years the Planning Commission and commissioners review the plan to ensure progress is occurring on the goals. In accordance with Nevada Revised Statues, the Master Plan may address community design, conservation, economics, housing, land use, population, education, public buildings, public services and facilities, recreation, seismic safety, streets and highways, transit, utility corridor, and transportation.
The following are some highlights from the Master Plan:
• Churchill County’s current population is 25,832. Before the recession (2001-2006), the county grew about 13 percent, but the population declined about 2,000 people from2006-2011 because of the recession. At the beginning of the recession, the county’s population was reduced by 2,000 people (2006-2011).
“However, over the past eight years, Churchill County’s population held relatively steady, increasing by less than three percent. The current population roughly equals that of 2003,”the plan outlined.
• Regional activity: A large number of employees (nearly 50%) currently commute for work outside the county, especially to Washoe, Lyon, Carson City, and Storey counties. In 2009, only 15 percent of the workforce commuted.
• Housing: Housing units currently inventoried in Churchill County is 10,233 and consists of conventional single-family detached homes and mobile homes.
• Churchill County should take advantage of these natural resources in promoting itself to its residents, visitors and potential economic development clients.
“Promoting the image of the county can improve pride in the community, enhance tourism and encourage economic development clients to locate to Churchill County.
“Churchill County has abundant renewable energy resources, such as geothermal, wind, solar, hydropower and even biomass energy production. There are nine geothermal plants within the county that produce energy, and several exploration projects are underway. Currently, many of these geothermal sites are incorporating solar panels to improve overall energy production.”
• Natural hazards in the area included flooding, earthquakes, volcanic activity, fire, wind events, severe weather, drought and epidemics.
• “The purpose of the Historical Preservation element is to outline goals and policies to preserve and protect the county’s history. There are many historical sites that are worthy of consideration and protection when development takes place near them, including historic buildings, trails, general areas and cultural events.”
• Economic development: “The labor force and total employment increased before the recession of 2008 and dropped by over 20 percent during the recession (2009-2015). These losses were recently reversed.”
• Recreation: “These include traditional organized sports, as well as sightseeing, ORV (off-road vehicle) touring, swimming, boating, birding, bicycling, camping, hunting, fishing, and hiking. Churchill County's vast number of natural areas, historical and archaeological sites, and developed recreational facilities are valued and used by the residents and provide significant potential for increasing the tourism economy.”
• According to the Nevada Revised Statutes, open space land is defined as land that is an undeveloped natural landscape. Churchill County’s main components of open space land are agriculture, water and recreation areas.
Agriculture is an important part of life and the economy of Churchill County, and an important aspect of open space. Water is the most limited resource in the state and water quantity and quality are foremost in priority in any countywide plan. Water supply is dependent upon the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Range. There is great diversity in wildlife species and habitats in Churchill County to include Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge and Fallon National Wildlife Refuge.
Churchill County also has an abundance of recreational opportunities.
• “The purpose of the Land Use element is to establish a planned pattern for the development of Churchill County for the next 20 years and to promote practical land use decisions.”
• “Public Lands form the vast majority of Churchill County’s open spaces and broad vistas that give a unique character to the high desert of Northern Nevada.”
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