City of North Las Vegas Comprehensive Master Plan

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Adopted November 21, 2006 Amended February 16, 2011

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Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................... I CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1 What Is a Comprehensive Plan? ...................................................................................... 1 How Was the Plan Developed? ........................................................................................ 3 How Is the Plan Implemented? ......................................................................................... 4 What Does the Plan Contain? .......................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 2: THE VISION ................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 3: GUIDING PRINCIPLES, GOALS, AND POLICIES ............................................... 9 CHAPTER 4: LAND USE PLAN ............................................................................................ 34 Residential ...................................................................................................................... 34 Non-Residential ............................................................................................................... 37 Mixed-Use ....................................................................................................................... 41 CHAPTER 5: PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN AND RESIDENTIAL DENSITY EVALUATION CRITERIA ..... 46 Master Planned Communities.......................................................................................... 47 Mixed-Use Development ................................................................................................. 52 Transit-Oriented Development ....................................................................................... 56 Residential Density Evaluation Criteria ........................................................................... 60 CHAPTER 6: SPECIFIC PLANNING AREAS .......................................................................... 64 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 64 Residential Neighborhoods .............................................................................................. 66 Existing Neighborhoods ............................................................................................... 66 New Master Planned Communities ............................................................................. 72 Activity Centers ................................................................................................................ 74 Downtown .................................................................................................................. 74 North 5th Transit Corridor and Craig Ranch ................................................................ 75 Northern Development Area ........................................................................................ 77 Employment Districts ....................................................................................................... 78 Cheyenne Technology Corridor ................................................................................... 78 Industrial Lands ........................................................................................................... 79 Military ........................................................................................................................ 80 CHAPTER 7: ACTION PLAN ................................................................................................ 82 Summary of Priority Actions ............................................................................................. 82 Land Use ...................................................................................................................... 82 Housing and Neighborhoods ....................................................................................... 83 Parks, Trails, and Open Space ..................................................................................... 83

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Transportation and Mobility.................................................................................................. 84 Public Facilities and Services .............................................................................................. 84 Community Character and Design ....................................................................................... 84 Economic Development ....................................................................................................... 85

CHAPTER 8: ANNUAL PLAN REVIEW ........................................................................ 86 Purpose................................................................................................................................ 86 Quantitative Measures ........................................................................................................ 86 Qualitative Measures ........................................................................................................... 88 Annual Plan Review Questions........................................................................................ 88

CHAPTER 9: DEVELOPMENT REVIEW ....................................................................... 90 Purpose................................................................................................................................ 90 Master Planned Communities............................................................................................... 92 Development within Designated Transit Station Area .......................................................... 96 Mixed-Use Development ..................................................................................................... 98 Infill Development in Existing Neighborhoods.................................................................. 100 Single-Family Low Development Checklist ...................................................................... 102 Single-Family Medium Development Checklist ................................................................. 104 Mixed-Use Neighborhood Development Checklist ............................................................ 108

APPENDIX A: MAPS ................................................................................................. A-1

APPENDIX B: EXISTING CONDITIONS ....................................................................... B-1

APPENDIX C: PLANNING ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES ............................................. C-1

APPENDIX D: CAPACITY ANALYSIS ........................................................................... D-1

APPENDIX E: PLAN AND POLICY SUMMARY .............................................................. E-1

APPENDIX F: PLAN CONFORMITY ............................................................................. F-1

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Table of Contents

MAPS AND FIGURES

Chapter 1

Figure 1-1: Location and Context ....................................................................................... 1

Chapter 4

Figure 4-1: Land Use Plan .................................................................................................. 43

Chapter 5

Figure 5-1: Developing Mixed Neighborhoods................................................................... 47 Figure 5-2: Designing Neighborhood Centers .................................................................... 48 Figure 5-3: Designing Pedestrian-Friendly Places.............................................................. 53 Figure 5-4: Designing Gateways and Districts ................................................................... 56 Figure 5-5: Residential Density Bonus System: Density Increase Diagram.......................... 59

Chapter 6

Figure 6-1: Planning Framework ....................................................................................... 65

Appendix A

Figure A-1: Parks and Recreation Figure A-2: Schools and Higher Education Institutions Figure A-3: Community Facilities and Services Figure A-4: Existing Land Use (2005) Figure A-5: Capacity Analysis for Vacant Lands Figure A-6: Capacity Analysis Figure A-7: Major Transportation Corridors Figure A-8: Pedestrian and Bike Trails Figure A-9: Transmission Line and Substation Plan

Appendix B

Figure B-1: Rate of Population Growth 1980-2004 ............................................................. B-2 Figure B-2: Diversity of Population 1980-2000 ................................................................. B-3 Figure B-3: Chronology of Development ............................................................................ B-17

Appendix D

Figure D-1: Quadrants for Vacant Lands Analysis..............................................................D-2

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TABLES

Appendix B

Table B-1: Comparison of Annual Growth Rates, 1980-2004 ........................................... B-2 Table B-2: Comparison of Housing Conditions in 2000................................................... B-3 Table B-3: Annual Approved Development, 1999-2004 .................................................. B-5 Table B-4: Existing Housing Conditions Survey - 2009 ................................................... B-6 Table B-5: Projected Population 2010-Buildout.............................................................. B-7 Table B-6: Residential Acreage and Percent of Land Use - 2010 ................................... B-8 Table B-7: Current Land Use Mix of Developed Lands ................................................... B-18

Appendix D

Table D-1: Existing Developed Areas .............................................................................. D-2 Table D-2: Vacant Lands .................................................................................................. D-2 Table D-3: Status of Vacant Lands by Quadrant.............................................................. D-3 Table D-4: Estimated Capacity of Planned New Development........................................ D-3 Table D-5: Estimated Total Capacity at Buildout............................................................ D-3

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

City Council

Michael L. Montandon
Mayor

William E. Robinson
Mayor Pro Tempore, Councilman Ward 2

Stephanie Smith
Councilwoman Ward 3

Shari Buck
Councilman Ward 4

Robert Eliason
Councilman Ward 1

Planning Commission

Jay Aston
Chairman

Jo Cato
Vice Chairman

L. Dean Leavitt
Harry Shull
Steve Brown
Dilip Trivedi
Angelo Carvalho

City Manager’s Office

Gregory E. Rose
City Manager

Maryann I. Ustick
Assistant City Manager – Development

City Staff

Jory Stewart, AICP
Planning and Zoning Department Director

Misty Haehn
Advance Planning Manager

North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan

Marc Jordan Current Planning Manager

Jerry Sommerfeld GIS Planner

Johanna Murphy, ASLA Landscape Architect

Robert Eastman, AICP Principal Planner

Ned Thomas, AICP Urban Designer

Citizens’ Focus Group

Jay Aston Lawrence Beasley Monica Beasley Bob Borgersen Maury Blanton David Cardall Calvin Champlin Guy E. Corrado David Frommer Al Greer

Bill Hoover Jack Kelso Mike Kennedy Steven Lauber Eloiza Martinez Lisa Merrell Jim Olive Marlene Palmatary Cherlynn Thomas

Clarion Associates

Ben Herman, AICP Principal

C. Greg Dale, FAICP Principal

Amy Kacala Associate

Chapter 1: Introduction

This Comprehensive Plan is the policy document that will guide city decision makers as they work over the next 20 years to implement the plan and achieve the envisioned future for the city. This formally adopted plan replaces the 1999 Comprehensive Plan for the city and is in conformance with all applicable state statutes and the objectives established in the Southern Nevada Regional Policy Plan.

What Is a Comprehensive Plan?

The Comprehensive Plan is an officially adopted advisory document that outlines the community’s vision and goals for the future and provides guidance for elected and appointed officials as they make choices regarding the long-range needs of the city. The guiding principles, goals, and policies of this Comprehensive Plan, along with the Land Use Plan map, provide guidance for decisions affecting growth, land use, and development. The policy recommendations and maps contained in this Comprehensive Plan are interrelated and should not be used independently from one another.

Planning Area and Context

This Comprehensive Plan addresses all of the incorporated areas of the city as well as some Clark County lands that are fully surrounded by the incorporated city. North Las Vegas is an area of 82 square miles located within Clark County, 10 miles north of Las Vegas along Interstate 15. The city is bounded to the north by Bureau of Land Management lands and the Desert National Wildlife Range, to the west by Nellis Air Force Base and residential developments within Clark County, and to the south and west by the City of Las Vegas (see Figure 1-1).

Figure 1-1: Location and Context

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Compliance with State Requirements

This Comprehensive Plan has been prepared in response to the Nevada Revised Statute NRS 278.150(1) which states a Planning Commission and City Council “shall prepare and adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the city.” This plan replaces the city’s 1999 Comprehensive Plan. According to state statutes, the plan is to be prepared so that all of the following elements are adopted by the governing body, as appropriate:

• Community Design
• Conservation Plan
• Economic Plan
• Historical Properties Preservation Plan
• Housing Plan
• Land Use Plan
• Population Plan
• Public Buildings
• Public Services and Facilities
• Recreation Plan
• Rural Neighborhoods Preservation Plan
• Safety Plan
• School Facilities Plan
• Seismic Safety Plan
• Solid Waste Disposal Plan
• Streets and Highways Plan
• Transit Plan
• Transportation Plan

The extent to which each of the elements listed above is addressed by this Plan varies according to their direct relevance to North Las Vegas.

The statutes also indicate how the Plan is to be adopted. In the preparation of the Plan and in the subsequent public hearings, the Nevada Revised Statutes were followed. The specific sections covering the plan are NRS 278.150 through NRS 278.170.

Compliance with Southern Nevada Regional Policy Plan

Also mandated by the state legislature is the city’s need for ongoing regional coordination as part of the Southern Nevada Regional Policy Plan (SNRPP), adopted in 2000 as a plan and growth management strategy for the Las Vegas Valley. The regional plan identifies a series of transportation, land use, air quality, infill development, public services and infrastructure issues that the region faces and identifies policy directions to be taken by jurisdictions in their Master Planning efforts. This Plan conforms to the requirements of the SNRPC for the city, as detailed in Appendix F.

Chapter 1: Introduction

How Was the Plan Developed?

Planning Process and Community Involvement

Ensuring equal and fair representation of the diverse interests of North Las Vegas' population and providing adequate opportunity for community involvement were two key components of the planning process. City staff, elected and appointed officials, consultants and the public collaborated over a period of 18 months, from February of 2005 to August of 2006, to develop the North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan. The project team received regular input and guidance from elected and appointed officials as well as a Citizens' Focus Group, and provided opportunities for members of the community and other stakeholders to participate throughout the process of developing the Comprehensive Plan. A summary of community involvement opportunities and public outreach efforts is provided below.

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The Focus Group met regularly to provide feedback to staff.

Citizens' Focus Group Meetings

A representative group of citizens met regularly with project staff throughout the process. Many of the members of this group also participated in the Visioning 2025 process and had detailed knowledge of the work, visions, and goals that resulted from that year-long effort. Focus Group members provided important guidance on key directions for the plan and reviewed in detail all components of the plan.

Elected and Appointed Officials Updates

Regular meetings with the Planning Commission, and joint meetings of the City Council and Planning Commission held at key stages in the planning process, allowed the planning team to provide progress updates, present preliminary findings and alternative solutions, and receive policy direction.

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Planning Commission members met regularly to review components of the plan and recommend direction.

2005-2006 Public Open House Events

Several public Open House events at key stages of the process allowed citizens to participate in plan development, review project materials, and convey questions and concerns to local staff and the consultant team. The local newspaper, the city website, and the project website advertised these events.

PROJECT WEBSITE

The planning team maintained a project website throughout the process at www.nlvplan.com. This site contained general information on the comprehensive planning process and its work products, including all written materials and maps and provided opportunities for comment both generally, through a contact form, and at key stages such as the refinement of the Land Use Plan map.

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The project website at www.nlvplan.com

How Is the Plan Implemented?

The Vision, Guiding Principles, and Policies are the core components of the Plan. These statements represent the values and aspirations of the community in a variety of areas and set the shared agenda for the future of the city. The Plan is primarily implemented by the action of the city government, but also involves the collaboration of members of the community, adjacent and overlapping jurisdictions, and service districts. Implementation is achieved through the day-to-day actions and decisions made by the city in the form of policies made and changed; the review, negotiation, and approval of development proposals; facilities planning for services and departments – including transportation, fire, police, and parks and recreation; and programs offered by the city. In many instances, policies indicate that the city will need to collaborate with other parties in order to accomplish the goal. This includes the county and neighboring jurisdictions as well as private citizens. Residents, property owners, and businesses – acting through location-specific entities such as neighborhood associations or community groups, or subject-specific collaborations such as business associations – will have a large role in implementing the policies of this Plan.

What Does the Plan Contain?

Organization of the Plan

This plan is organized as follows:

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1 provides an introduction to comprehensive plans, what purpose they serve, and the public process involved in the creation of this Plan.

CHAPTER 2: THE VISION

Chapter 2 contains the vision statement of the city, the desired future that the community hopes to achieve through this Plan.

CHAPTER 3: GUIDING PRINCIPLES, GOALS, AND POLICIES

Chapter 3 contains the Guiding Principles, Goals, and Policies that the city will employ citywide to implement the Plan and achieve its vision.

CHAPTER 4: LAND USE PLAN

Chapter 4 contains the Land Use Plan and descriptions of the land use categories displayed on the map.

CHAPTER 5: PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Chapter 5 provides guidance for how new developments should be designed in order to achieve high-quality development that meets the goals and vision of the community. This chapter also introduces the concept of a tiered residential density system for certain residential and mixed-use neighborhood areas, whereby additional density is awarded in direct relation to the quality of the design.

CHAPTER 6: SPECIFIC PLANNING AREAS

Chapter 6 provides area-specific policies for the numerous existing and future Residential Neighborhoods, Activity Centers, and Employment Districts within the city.

CHAPTER 7: ACTION PLAN

Chapter 7 contains the strategies for the city to employ to implement this Plan.

CHAPTER 8: ANNUAL PLAN REVIEW

Chapter 8 contains the annual review template for the city to use to monitor implementation of this Comprehensive Plan.

CHAPTER 9: DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

Chapter 9 contains several development review checklists to assist developers and decision makers as they design and evaluate future development proposals as they relate to this Plan.

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Maps Appendix B: Existing Conditions Appendix C: Planning Issues and Opportunities Appendix D: Capacity Analysis Appendix E: Plan and Policy Summary Appendix F: Plan Conformity

North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan

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CHAPTER 2: THE VISION

The vision statement expresses the attributes the community will work toward over the next 20 years. It is the community’s answer to the question “what do we want our community to be like in the future?” This Comprehensive Plan charts the course for how the community will achieve its vision.

The VISION of North Las Vegas in 2025...

North Las Vegas is a City that has mastered the challenges and opportunities that accompany unprecedented growth and development through imagination, civic spirit, undaunting resolve, and community pride. The City has created a world-renowned success—a well-planned and safe community that is amenity-driven, people-oriented and attracts residents and visitors.

It’s an exciting place where people experience the joy of fulfilling a dream: North Las Vegas is “Your Community of Choice” and a preferred destination to visit, live, work, and play.

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Chapter 3: Guiding Principles

The Chapter 3: Guiding Principles, Goals, and Policies

This chapter contains the Guiding Principles, Goals, and Policies that together shape the agenda for what the plan seeks to accomplish and how its implementation should be pursued.

Guiding Principles

Guiding Principles are overarching statements that provide insight into the “big picture” objectives of the city. These statements are the key components of the city’s strategy to achieve its vision and form the basis of the goals and policies.

North Las Vegas’ Comprehensive Plan contains 10 Guiding Principles:

1. Quality Housing Development and Cohesive Neighborhood Communities;
2. Thriving, Attractive Commercial and Business Centers;
3. An Integrated Multi-Modal Transportation System;
4. A Balanced Land Use Mix;
5. Pivotal Centers for Development and Redevelopment;
6. A Diverse Economic Base;
7. Community Services, Amenities and Environment;
8. A Safe and Livable Community;
9. Community Spirit, Relationships and Pride; and
10. Fiscal Policies and Management.

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Goals

Comprehensive Plan goals provide concise statements of what the community aims to accomplish over the life of the plan—for the next 20 years—assuming the city will update the plan from time to time. The goals provide the basic organization and direction for the plan’s policies.

Policies

Policies provide the definite course of action or direction decided upon by the city to be employed to attain the goals. They provide ongoing guidance for elected and appointed community leaders, staff and administrators as they make decisions about development, programs, and investments in the city.

Guiding Principle 1

Quality Housing Development and Cohesive Neighborhood Communities

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The city will become "Your Community of Choice" by promoting cohesive neighborhoods that contain a mix of uses to provide convenience retail and services to residents, a diverse mix of housing options to serve the varying needs and preferences of residents, and opportunities for indoor and outdoor recreation and enjoyment such as parks, recreation centers, golf courses, bike paths and walking trails. Each neighborhood will emphasize a livable scale and offer a high level of connectivity between and among different uses and areas through quality design and site planning. The city will work to maintain and enhance the character of existing neighborhoods through its land use regulations and development review decisions. Development and redevelopment will seek to achieve a greater land use mix and maintain overall compatibility with the existing area. New development will offer, or be conveniently located and connected to, commercial and recreational amenities.

All Nevada cities and counties are required to have a housing element included in their Comprehensive Plan which establishes housing goals, policies and programs in response to community housing conditions and needs. NRS 278.160(f) requires that the Housing Plan include:

(1) An inventory of housing conditions, needs and plans and procedures for improving housing

standards and for providing adequate housing (see Appendix B); (2) An inventory of affordable housing in the community (see Appendix B); (3) An analysis of the demographic characteristics of the community (see Appendix B); (4) A determination of the present and prospective need for affordable housing in the community; (5) An analysis of any impediments to the development of affordable housing and policies to mitigate those impediments (see Appendix B); (6) An analysis of the characteristics of the land that is the most appropriate for the construction of affordable housing; (7) An analysis of the needs and appropriate methods for the construction of affordable housing or the conversion or rehabilitation of existing housing to affordable housing; and (8) A plan for maintaining and developing affordable housing to meet the housing needs of the community.

Some of the required elements of the Housing Plan are included in the HUD Consolidated Plan (HCP). The HCP is developed through a Consortium comprised of Clark County and the cities of North Las Vegas, Mesquite and Boulder City [included in Appendix B of this document].

The city has prepared this portion of the Comprehensive Master Plan to address current and near-term future housing needs in North Las Vegas. It contains information and strategic directions

Chapter 3: Guiding Principles

(policies and specific actions) that the City is committed to undertaking in order to encourage housing that is equitable, accessible, attainable and sustainable. The intent is to guarantee the enduring value of housing and the long-term livability of all neighborhoods.

The Housing Element is also intended to identify actions to implement the City of North Las Vegas Visioning 2025 Strategic Plan.

North Las Vegas will achieve its vision by attaining the following goals:

GOAL 1.1 VILLAGES AND NEIGHBORHOODS

The city will design and develop as a collection of distinct and attractive “Villages and Neighborhoods,” multi-use areas each possessing a unique sense of place and shared identity.

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This neighborhood center offers a welcoming pedestrian area for neighborhood residents.

Policy 1.1-1 Quality Neighborhood Design

Work with developers to design and build attractive, livable, and distinct residential neighborhoods that provide a range of housing types, centers of mixed-use or

commercial activity, parks and open space, overall pedestrian connectivity, and a distinct sense of place.

Policy 1.1-2 Residential Development Guidelines

Create development guidelines and policies to facilitate new development compatible in style and character and offers a broader mix of land uses in existing residential areas.

Policy 1.1-3 Neighborhood Planning

Conduct neighborhood plans, as needed, for designated existing neighborhood areas within the city. These plans will specifically address the needs and conditions within these specific areas, including transportation, services, recreation and amenities, and formulate strategies to address these needs.

Policy 1.1-4: Increase Neighborhood Connections

Individual subdivisions tend to be surrounded by walls that separate neighborhoods visually and physically from adjacent development. The presence of uninterrupted wall segments within and around neighborhoods limits pedestrian movement – both within and between neighborhoods and between neighborhoods and areas of commercial, civic, and employment activity. Viable pedestrian routes through and between existing neighborhoods should be identified including the location of points along wall planes where a break in the wall may be added to allow for the pedestrian route. Priority should be given to access points that create connections between a neighborhood and one or more of the following: commercial center, schools and parks, regional trail, open space, and civic facilities (e.g., library or recreation center). The creation of wall breaks, if desired by the

North Las Vegas

neighborhood, may be conducted by the responsible Homeowners Association(s) and may include the involvement of the city where possible, whether through direct funding assistance or through terms of a proposed development negotiated to lend resources to wall alteration efforts.

Policy 1.1-5: Distinct Design of Neighborhood Common Areas. Neighborhood common areas should include, but are not limited to, distinct lights, signage, right-of-way landscaping and materials to distinguish each neighborhood from others.

Policy 1.1-6: Resource Conservation Promote development and construction standards that provide resource conservation by encouraging housing types and designs that use cost-effective energy conservation measures and fewer resources (water, electricity, etc.) and, therefore, cost less to operate over time, supporting long- term housing sustainability.

Policy 1.1-7: Encourage Site Planning Conducive to Physical Activity.

Encourage design and site planning of residential developments that have features and amenities that support physical activities.

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High-quality design of multi-family buildings offers housing choice while still blending well with surrounding single-family residences.

GOAL 1.2 HOUSING VARIETY The city will provide a range of housing options to meet the diverse needs of current and future residents.

Policy 1.2-1 Range of Housing Options Within the City there should be a variety of well-designed and maintained housing options in different settings to meet varying community needs, including "move-up," cooperative , and executive housing. Residents will have a choice of housing types ranging from large-lot rural homes, single-family neighborhoods, apartments, lots in mixed-use districts, and housing close to jobs and transit to meet varying lifestyles.

Policy 1.2-2 Attainable Housing Partnerships Pursue public/private/non-profit partnerships to facilitate the supply of attainable housing within the city.

Policy 1.2-3 Housing for Life's Stages Encourage the inclusion of senior and entry level housing in new residential

developments as well as larger homes for families and executives.

Policy 1.2-4 Attainable Housing Through Density

Promote mixed-use development to facilitate attainable housing construction within higher density mixed-use areas.

GOAL 1.3 REDEVELOPMENT AND INFILL

The City should encourage residential infill and redevelopment to expand, preserve, and further enhance the variety of housing options available.

Policy 1.3-1 Preserve or Upgrade Existing Neighborhoods

Quality residential and neighborhood-oriented infill development will promote preservation and/or upgrades in existing neighborhoods, particularly in the mature areas of the city.

Policy 1.3-2 Promote Downtown Redevelopment

Develop a vibrant, active center for the community which will also provide services for the existing residents in the downtown and also draw residents from outside the downtown core. The City should continue business incentive programs to encourage retention and investments by businesses in the downtown area.

Policy 1.3-3 Mixed-Use Infill Projects

Opportunities for mixed-use infill projects in the downtown area and existing neighborhoods should be identified. Residential uses should be encouraged as part of mixed-use projects. The city will encourage new infill development, considering and being

sensitive to the character of existing stable neighborhoods. Considerations shall include building scale, placement, size, height transitions, landscape, streetscape, access, and other design measures which are included in the Zoning Ordinance (Title 17).

Policy 1.3-4 Utilization of Existing Programs

The city will utilize existing programs (home owner association (HOA) maintenance requirements, code enforcement, etc.) to encourage upkeep and preservation of mature neighborhoods within the city.

GOAL 1.4 EFFICIENT USE OF LAND

Use land efficiently to encourage a diversity of housing types which will support the needs of all residents and implement "smart growth," sustainable development principles.

Policy 1.4-1 Protect Existing Rural Neighborhoods

The integrity and character of the city's existing rural neighborhoods should be protected by establishing density transition guidelines for new development near established rural neighborhoods. These design guidelines may include: placing transitions between neighborhoods, such as open space, trails, landscaping buffers, and existing natural features.

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Affordable, as defined by HUD, is housing costs (all expenses related to housing) that does not exceed 30% of a household’s monthly income.

Policy 1.4-2 Balance Single and Multi-Family Housing Stock

The city should monitor its housing stock in order to provide a range of single-family and multi-family types of housing that are safe and well-serviced for all age groups and special-needs groups. This includes a balance of single-family attached and detached, duplex, townhomes, and other varieties of high-density housing such as apartments and condominiums.

Policy 1.4-3 High-Density Housing Location and Amenities

High-density housing, including mid to high-rise apartments, condominiums, and townhomes, should be located near transit, activity and commercial centers. High-density residential developments should also include features such as a central courtyard, recreational facilities, or other outdoor community gathering spaces, to enhance attractiveness and livability.

Mixed use developments with a high-density housing component should also be located by arterial and collector streets for optimal accessibility and walkability.

Policy 1.4-4 Mixed-Use Housing

Promote and provide incentives for well-designed mixed use residential / non-residential developments in areas that allow mixed uses, where residential use is appropriate to the setting, and development impacts can be mitigated. Allow residential use as part of mixed use projects, particularly in the downtown area.

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Accessory dwelling units appear under many aliases – granny flats, garage apartments, carriage houses, ancillary units – and they provide an extra tier of housing options, affordable units that can attract people from diverse age and income groups.

Policy 1.4-5 Compatible Development

Residential uses shall not be located adjacent to any military land, land subject to sound level decibels greater than 70, or any other uses not conducive to residential development.

Policy 1.4-6 Impact and Planning Fees

Chapter 3: Guiding Principles

Reduce application and/or building fees or defer fees for lower income housing projects to the extent possible and when possible, encourage other agencies to do so also.

GOAL 1.5 DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES

The city will establish and protect affordable housing, enabling citizens with low to moderate incomes to find adequate housing, which includes amenities and proximity to transit.

Policy 1.5-1 Fair Share

Promote a “fair share” of well-designed affordable and varied housing in all neighborhoods throughout the city by establishing inclusionary housing regulations.

Policy 1.5-2 Protection of Existing Affordable Housing

Ensure that affordable housing provided through government subsidy programs, incentives and deed restrictions will remain

affordable, and intervene when necessary to help preserve such housing.

Policy 1.5-3 Density Bonuses and Other Incentives for Affordable and Special Needs Housing Developments

Support and expand the use of density bonuses and other incentives to help achieve housing goals while ensuring that potential impacts are considered and mitigated.

Policy 1.5-4 Encourage Workforce Housing

Workforce housing is essential to the strength of any community and the city should ensure that this is available in various locations throughout the community. In

order to encourage the private sector to provide a mixture of housing types with varied price ranges and amenities, incentive programs such as density bonuses, inclusionary programs, allowance for granny flats, and administrative approvals. The city should also implement programs that protect the quality and availability of any workforce housing supply once established.

GOAL 1.6 ENHANCEMENT AND STABILIZATION OF ESTABLISHED AND OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS

Housing in the more mature areas of the city will be retained and enhanced.

Policy 1.6-1 Expansion of Redevelopment Projects

The city should undertake programs targeted towards enhancement and stabilization of established neighborhoods, such as upkeep and preservation of older housing stock, design standards and guidelines for redevelopment projects to encourage housing diversity, rehabilitation, and assistance for improvements to physical infrastructure.

Policy 1.6-2 Code Enforcement

Code Enforcement provides a direct, contributory role in enhancing public safety, reducing neighborhood decline and stabilizing communities in the more mature areas of the City.

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Existing neighborhood in the mature area of the city.

Guiding Principle 2

Thriving, Attractive Commercial and Business Centers

The city will become "Your Community of Choice" by promoting the development of thriving commercial centers offering a variety of goods and services to residents and contributing to the high quality of life within the city. These centers will contain numerous offices, restaurants and shops and will be conveniently accessible from residential areas by a variety of transportation options. Business centers will provide high paying jobs to residents and allow employees to work close to where they live, reducing commute times.

North Las Vegas will achieve this vision by attaining the following goals:

GOAL 2.1 REGIONAL COMMERCIAL CENTERS

The city will locate regional commercial centers (i.e., a destination commercial area with quality design and unique stores that creates a regional draw) as well as several smaller community-serving centers (i.e., a commercial area located in close proximity to neighborhoods or employment areas providing needed goods and services) within its limits.

Policy 2.1-1 Regional Commercial Center

Pursue the development of a major regional destination commercial center or centers in appropriate areas designated as Mixed-Use Commercial on the Land Use Plan map (Figure 4-1). This includes locations within the Downtown to be delineated through the Downtown Master Plan process and areas in the vicinity of the northern beltway and the city's planned transit corridors or other high-volume transportation corridors, to create a distinctive shopping attraction for residents and visitors. (See Figure A-7: Major

Chapter 3: Guiding Principles

Transportation Corridors in Appendix A.) Regional centers should be larger in scale than a community or neighborhood commercial center and should offer stores not typically duplicated within a community, such as high-end or specialty retailers. While these may have all of the offerings of a typical mall format, the center should focus on quality design and site planning to allow for multi-modal access with particular emphasis on connections to the North 5th transit corridor. Site design should incorporate various pedestrian amenities and relate well to the adjacent UNLV and VA Hospital activity centers of the Northern Development Area. (See Figure 6-1: Planning Framework.)

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Mixed-Use commercial centers provide concentrated areas of goods, services, and social interaction.

Policy 2.1-2 Mixed-Use Commercial Centers

Develop mixed-use commercial centers throughout the city to meet service, employment, and retail needs of the community. Each commercial center should relate well to surrounding development through its design and provide for multi-modal transportation access.

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Regardless of their size, commercial centers should be designed for pedestrians.

GOAL 2.2 COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL & NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS

Commercial development within the city will be located within centers.

Policy 2.2-1 Integrated Neighborhood Centers

Coordinate with neighborhoods to integrate commercial centers into the communities that include the goods and services residents need and desire.

Policy 2.2-2 Commercial Centers

Encourage the development of community-serving commercial centers in new and existing portions of the city that connect well to the adjacent developed areas in use, scale, design, and street and pedestrian connections. Centers should incorporate a mix of uses and employ pedestrian-friendly design and amenities to promote active pedestrian environments. Attractive, safe, and convenient transit stops should be provided as part of the overall design.

Policy 2.2-3 Shift Commercial Areas Toward Centers

Create land use policies to encourage and support the development of commercial centers. Discourage strip-style development along major roads, and instead focus development in centers.

Policy 2.2-4 Commercial Design Standards

Enhance commercial design standards to ensure attractive pedestrian-oriented developments that are well-integrated with the character and style of surrounding development.

Guiding Principle 3

An Integrated Multi-Modal Transportation System

The city will become "Your Community of Choice" by working to develop a fully integrated multi-modal transportation system to facilitate efficient and convenient movement of residents and goods through and around the community. This system will incorporate mass transit corridors with extensive connections into adjacent neighborhoods, a well-organized system of arterials and local roadways, public transit options, and pedestrian and bike ways. The city will support and encourage non-motorized means of transportation such as bicycle and pedestrian movement as a safe, viable, and enjoyable means of transportation through connective design and planning. Development decisions will be made in a manner that will enhance and support transportation infrastructure and maximize its use.

North Las Vegas will achieve this vision by attaining the following goals:

Goal 3.1 Multi-Modal Transportation

Create an integrated multi-modal transportation system providing residents a variety of options for their daily travel, including mass transit, car, bicycle, and walking. All modes of travel will be well-integrated with each other and with the development they serve so residents and visitors can easily travel between different destinations and areas of the city.

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The MAX bus that serves North Las Vegas is a highly used example of Bus Rapid Transit. (photo courtesy of RTC website at http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/max/)

Policy 3.1-1 Connected System of Trails and Sidewalks

Integrate a connected system of trails, sidewalks, and bike lanes on major roadways to offer safe and convenient pedestrian and

Chapter 3: Guiding Principles

bicycle movement within and among developed areas of the city. (See Figure A-8: Pedestrian and Bike Trails in Appendix A.)

Policy 3.1-2 Pedestrian and Bicycle Amenities

Incorporate amenities such as benches, shelters, bike racks, wayfinding signage, shade structures, and crosswalks to facilitate the use of pedestrian, bicycle, and mass transit options.

Policy 3.1-3 Pedestrian-Oriented Design

Employ the principles of pedestrian-oriented design in residential and commercial areas. (See Figure 5-3: Designing Pedestrian-Friendly Places, p. 53.)

Policy 3.1-4 Connected Roadway Network

Complete the roadway system to provide a safe and fully connected and functional road network. Incorporate the full range of appropriate Complete Street elements when planning and designing the roadway network.

Policy 3.1-5 I-15 Traffic Mitigation Measures

Coordinate with the Nevada Department of Transportation to create High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes for the I-15 corridor widening project to encourage car pooling and help mitigate traffic congestion problems on Interstate15.

Policy 3.1-6 Transit System Enhancement

Work with the RTC to achieve an enhanced level of transit service city-wide.

Policy 3.1-7 Transportation Master Plan

Create a Transportation Master Plan to plan and implement a comprehensive and integrated multi-modal system of convenient transportation throughout the city and with regional connections. This plan could examine the possibility of an additional beltway north of the I-215 beltway.

Policy 3.1-8 Complete Streets

Complete Streets is a design approach used to safely and comfortably develop a street network for all types of users. Incorporate a range of appropriate Complete Street elements when planning and designing all components of the roadway network.

GOAL 3.2 TRANSIT CORRIDORS

The city will employ the principles of Transit-Oriented Design in the development of its mass transit corridors.

Policy 3.2-1 Advance Planning for Transit

Identify, in collaboration with the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), future mass transit corridors throughout the city to create a cohesive system to meet the transportation needs of the current and future population. These corridors should be well connected and served by supportive transit such as feeder bus lines, as well as streets and pedestrian connections.

North Las Vegas

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Higher densities are encouraged near transit stations to encourage use of transit.

Policy 3.2-2 Mixed-Use Transit Stops Actively plan and pursue areas of higher density pedestrian-oriented mixed-use along mass transit corridors at transit stations.

Policy 3.2-3 Transit-Oriented Design of Station Areas Employ the principles of Transit-Oriented Design around transit stations to create a system of convenient multi-modal access to mass transit, mixed-use development, and parking to facilitate the use and success of mass transit. (See Chapter 5: Principles of Design, Transit-Oriented Development p. 55.)

Policy 3.2-4 North 5th Street Transit Supportive Concept Plan Implement the North 5th Street Transit Supportive Concept Plan through the future land use plan and integrate this with the overall transportation network.

Goal 3.3 Well-Planned Roadway Network

The city will provide roadways that are well-planned and synchronized with development.

Policy 3.3-1 Traffic Modeling Provide the necessary resources and develop the capacity to conduct traffic modeling analysis to inform development decision making, ensuring that its modeling capacity is compatible with that of RTC to support regional coordination on transportation planning.

Policy 3.3-2 Pursue Alternate Funding Sources Create and pursue funding sources to finance roadway completion and maintenance including grant and Federal funding options.

Policy 3.3-3 Complete Streets Design Develop a system to identify streets as candidates for Complete Streets designs. Ensure that existing standards and procedures include Complete Streets implementation wherever feasible.

Policy 3.3-4 Eliminate Sawtooth Roads Identify funding mechanisms and work with developers to better plan and complete roadway improvements at the time of development to avoid the problem of "sawtooth" roads and to offer a safe and uninterrupted citywide roadway network.

Chapter 3: Guiding Principles

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Sawtooth roads with unfinished segments, a common site in the city today, create traffic and safety issues.

Guiding Principle 4

A Balanced Land Use Mix

The city will become "Your Community of Choice" by promoting a high quality of life through a well-planned and designed community. The city will ensure a balanced land use mix as it develops, providing high-quality residential areas with convenient access to a variety of retail goods, services, entertainment and dining options, employment, and recreation opportunities. The high-quality design of commercial and residential areas will encourage a strong sense of place, promote attractive and convenient areas of activity and recreation, retain scenic open areas, and emphasize the use of the city's multi-modal transportation system.

North Las Vegas will achieve this vision by attaining the following goals:

GOAL 4.1 BALANCED LAND USE MIX

The city will achieve a balanced land use mix to ensure that the jobs, goods, and services needed by its residents are available within the city.

Policy 4.1-1 Land Use Mix

Pursue a balanced land use mix to offer commercial, industrial, and recreational opportunities to contribute to the quality of life of the community in the long term.

Policy 4.1-2 Industrial Land Supply

Preserve a supply of industrial land to:

• Meet future employment needs;
• Enhance community livability by avoiding residential/industrial conflicts; and
• Enhance community safety.

Policy 4.1-3 Implement the Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Implement the intended form and function of the Land Use Plan of this Comprehensive Plan through consistent development decisions.

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Mixed use areas increase areas of employment and commercial activity while still offering a residential component.

North Las Vegas

GOAL 4.2 INNOVATIVE DESIGN

The city will become a signature community known for its high-quality, environmentally responsible, and innovative design and development practices.

Policy 4.2-1 Employ Principles of Smart Growth

Employ the 10 principles of smart growth in the design of new development and redevelopment projects. (See box, right.)

Policy 4.2-1 Promote Innovative Design

Promote the inclusion of innovative design and practices such as green building design, water conserving landscape design, shading devices to reduce solar heat gain, and other environmentally efficient and friendly practices in all new development and redevelopment.

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Xeric or desert landscaping in public parks and private lawns are a water efficient alternative to traditional grass.

GOAL 4.3 MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT

The community will promote quality mixed-use areas throughout the city.

Policy 4.3-1 Mixed-Use Development Guidelines

Develop guidelines to ensure quality mixed-use development and encourage the development of mixed-use centers throughout the city.

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Wide sidewalks, open storefronts, and other amenities such as lighting and landscaping, promote attractive pedestrian environments in mixed-use developments.

Policy 4.3-2 Mixed-Use Ordinance

Implement and follow the mixed-use ordinance and integrate its use with the overall city plan.

Guiding Principle 5

Pivotal Centers of Development and Redevelopment Activity

North Las Vegas will become “Your Community of Choice” by directing development within Pivotal Centers of activity – the mixed use Activity Centers and Employment Districts as illustrated on Figure 6-1: Planning Framework These centers will serve as key locations of social,

economic and cultural activity within the city, for residents and visitors alike. Quality design and development, a balanced mix of uses including a variety of dining, entertainment, shopping, and business activities will create areas of bustling pedestrian activity, both during the day and at night.

North Las Vegas will achieve this vision by attaining the following goals:

GOAL 5.1 A THRIVING DOWNTOWN

The city will redevelop the Downtown to serve as a thriving, defining city center.

Policy 5.1-1 Downtown Master Plan

Conduct and implement a Downtown Master Plan to guide future growth and investment in that area.

Policy 5.1-2 Downtown Beautification

Coordinate joint efforts between public, private, and non-profit entities to achieve a variety of redevelopment goals including streetscape beautification, public gathering places, commercial façade programs, residential revitalization, and land acquisition and redevelopment.

Policy 5.1-3 Downtown Design Guidelines

Create design guidelines specific to the Downtown to ensure that new development maintains an attractive and unified character and establishes a distinct sense of place.

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Redevelopment of the Downtown could provide an active and attractive higher density, mixed-use environment.

Policy 5.1-4 A Mixed-Use Downtown

Encourage higher-density mixed-use development within the Downtown.

Policy 5.1-5 Infill Development and Redevelopment in Downtown

Apply infill policies to facilitate development and redevelopment within the Downtown where vacant parcels tend to be smaller in size.

Policy 5.1-6 Downtown Business Support and Retention

Encourage and support existing businesses and business development within the Downtown.

Policy 5.1-7 Gateways and Signs

Develop gateways to denote entry into the Downtown and provide a system of well-coordinated signage to assist residents and visitors in finding their way to its various destinations.

North Las Vegas

⬚ figure Gateway improvements within the Downtown could vastly improve entry points to the city.

GOAL 5.2 TARGETED DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT

Development and redevelopment efforts will be targeted to key activity centers of the city.

Policy 5.2-1 Downtown Focus

Prioritize the development and enhancement of the Downtown as the distinctive center of social, civic, commercial, and entertainment activity for the city.

Policy 5.2-2 Cheyenne Technology Corridor

Further develop and enhance the Cheyenne Technology Corridor as a key employment area for the city.

Policy 5.2-3 Employment Corridors

Enhance the employment areas along Losee Road, Lamb Boulevard, and Craig Road as key activity centers. Encourage business attraction and retention, plan for appropriate transportation and services to meet the needs of businesses, and consider other means of integrating supporting uses in these areas into cohesive activity centers.

⬚ figure The Northern Development Area, currently undeveloped lands held by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is a prime opportunity area for the city.

GOAL 5.3 NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT AREA

The city will plan for the Northern Development Area to become a thriving mixed-use center.

Policy 5.3-1 Coordinated Planning

Incorporate and support the North 5th Street transit corridor in land use planning for the Northern Development Area, drawing upon the principles and practices of transit-oriented design.

Policy 5.3-2 Research Business Cluster

Promote the development of a research and technology business cluster relating to the University of Nevada Las Vegas Campus and Veteran’s Administration hospital.

Policy 5.3-3 Supportive Mixed-Use Environment

Chapter 3: Guiding Principles

Encourage the location of shopping, restaurants, business, and entertainment zones to support and promote a bustling university and business environment.

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Vacant parcels within developed areas of the city offer opportunities for infill development.

GOAL 5.4 INFILL POLICIES AND DESIGN GUIDELINES

The city will develop design guidelines and infill policies to guide development and redevelopment in established areas of the city.

Policy 5.4-1 Infill Policies

Establish infill polices to address barriers to mixed-use development and redevelopment activity within existing, established areas of the city, such as small lot sizes and property assemblage issues.

Policy 5.4-2 Promote Contiguous Development

Discourage non-contiguous development through development standards.

Policy 5.4-3 Design Guidelines

Create design guidelines to promote high-quality, attractive infill development and redevelopment. This development should be pedestrian-oriented, serve the needs of the surrounding area, and should be in harmony with the overall character, massing and design of existing development.

Policy 5.4-4 Redevelopment Areas

Assess the need for additional redevelopment areas within the city.

GOAL 5.5 QUALITY MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES

The city will work with developers to design and implement high-quality Master Planned Community developments.

Policy 5.5-1 Uphold the Principles of Design for New Master Planned Communities

Work with developers to promote high-quality design in new Master Planned Communities to achieve long-term land use goals and policies of the city. (See Chapter 5: Principles of Design, Master Planned Communities, p. 46.)

Policy 5.5-2 Development Evaluation Criteria

Establish a set of evaluation criteria to promote high-quality development and achieve land use and quality of life goals for the city.

North Las Vegas

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New Master Planned Communities will provide a range of housing, connective parks and open space, and pedestrian-oriented mixed-use town centers.

Guiding Principle 6

A Diverse Economic Base

North Las Vegas will become “Your Community of Choice” by offering numerous opportunities for entertainment, shopping, and employment. The city will build upon its industrial base and strong entrepreneurial spirit to further diversify and enhance its economic base.

North Las Vegas will achieve this vision by attaining the following goals:

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The Cheyenne Technology Corridor will continue to develop as a key area of employment in the city.

GOAL 6.1 ECONOMIC DIVERSITY

The economy of North Las Vegas will offer a diverse mix of businesses that both serve the needs of residents and supply quality employment opportunities.

Policy 6.1-1 Small Business Development

Create programs and resources to promote small business development.

Policy 6.1-2 Business Attraction

Create a marketing strategy to attract regional, national, and international businesses to locate within the city.

Policy 6.1-3 Research Business Cluster

Work strategically with the University of Nevada, the Veterans Administration and other area hospitals and businesses to develop a research business cluster.

GOAL 6.2 LIFELONG LEARNING

The higher education facilities of the city will promote continued education and training of residents and employees.

Chapter 3: Guiding Principles

Policy 6.2-1 Ongoing Education Programs Strengthen the relationship between the city and its higher education facilities to promote educational opportunities, such as additional professional training, for local residents and employees to promote a highly skilled workforce.

Guiding Principle 7

Community Services, Amenities, and Environment

North Las Vegas will become "Your Community of Choice" by creating sustainable amenities that promote a sense of community, support environmental resources and provide efficient and reliable services. This will be accomplished through a series of initiatives focused on education, recreation and the environment. Residents will choose this amenity-driven city as a place to live, work, and play.

North Las Vegas will achieve this vision by attaining the following goals:

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Schools are a key component of the quality of life in a city and should be well-planned.

Goal 7.1 Quality Schools

Work with the Clark County School District to provide high quality education and facilities for all students in North Las Vegas.

(Current and planned school facilities are illustrated in Figure A-2: Schools and Higher Education Institutions in Appendix A.)

Policy 7.1-1 School Planning Coordinate with Clark County School District and developers on the planning and maintenance of school facilities within the city to keep pace with growth.

Policy 7.1-2 Shared Access to Playgrounds Continue to collaborate with Clark County School District to facilitate public access to school playground and athletic areas.

Policy 7.1-3 Neighborhood-School Connections Coordinate land use and transportation planning to achieve a high level of access between residential areas and school facilities.

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The city will continue to expand its system of parks and trails (linear parks).

Goal 7.2 Parks and Recreation

The city will achieve a system of parkland and recreation facilities that meets the needs of residents of all ages.

(Current park and recreation amenities are illustrated in Figure A-1: Parks and Recreation in Appendix A.)

Policy 7.2-1 Continuous Park Planning

Implement and periodically update the Park and Recreational Facilities Master Plan to continuously track, plan, and prioritize the development and maintenance of the parks and recreation system.

Policy 7.2-2 Exceptional Parkland System

Pursue the development of a parks and recreation system meeting or exceeding national averages for level of service.

Policy 7.2-3 Community Recreation Needs

Assess recreation options and ensure that facility planning addresses specific needs within the community including senior and youth facilities.

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Increasing the supply and use of public facilities promotes community interaction.

Policy 7.2-4 Parks and Recreation in Neighborhood Design

Work with developers to create public parks, recreation facilities, cultural facilities, and connective greenways within developments in both new and mature areas of the city.

Policy 7.2-5 Craig Ranch Regional Park

Develop Craig Ranch into a regional park and orient surrounding development to the park to support its use.

Policy 7.2-6 Joint Usage Agreements

Develop joint usage agreements between schools, community groups, and local government to facilitate access and use of school parks and facilities.

Policy 7.2-7 Commercial Recreation

Encourage the development of commercial recreational opportunities and services that enhance the economic development of the city and provide recreational opportunities for residents.

Chapter 3: Guiding Principles

Goal 7.3 Celebrate Community

The community will plan, coordinate, and implement cultural and recreational events that celebrate and enhance the North Las Vegas community.

Policy 7.3-1 Public Facilities

Optimize the use of public facilities such as indoor recreation facilities, schools, community centers, libraries, senior centers, public parks and pools, and other facilities that provide opportunities for residents of all ages to socialize, recreate, access, and benefit from available facilities, programs, and services.

Policy 7.3-2 Celebrate Community

Encourage the development of community festivals and celebrations to strengthen the identity of the North Las Vegas community.

Goal 7.4 Conservation

The city will collaborate with other organizations to conserve key areas of open space and establish trail corridors on a city and regional level.

Policy 7.4-1 Natural and Cultural Resources

Collaborate with Federal, non-profit, and private entities to conserve key natural resource and culturally significant areas within the city.

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Conservation of key resource and archeological areas will remain a priority within the city.

Policy 7.4-2 Regional Trails Network

Pursue the development of a trails network through the city in coordination with surrounding jurisdictional entities to assist in the development of a regional trails network.

Policy 7.4-3 Develop Regional Standards

Coordinate with other jurisdictions in the Las Vegas Valley on developing regional standards and plans for regional parks, trails, and open space.

Policy 7.4-4 Private Open Space and Trails

Work with developers to incorporate areas of connective open space and trail corridors in development proposals. The open space and trails should link into and or extend the city-wide or regional networks.

Goal 7.5 Water Supply / Wastewater Treatment

The city will preserve sufficient water supply and provide sufficient capacity for wastewater treatment to serve the future needs of the community.

Policy 7.5-1 Southern Nevada Water Authority

Continue to participate in the Southern Nevada Water Authority to supply water to the city.

Policy 7.5-2 Water Facility Security

Enhance the security program for water facilities to provide back-up measures in the event of an emergency, natural or otherwise.

Policy 7.5-3 Wastewater Treatment Facility

Pursue the development of a wastewater treatment facility with sufficient capacity to serve the needs of the community into the future.

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Safeguarding the water supply is a key concern for all communities within the Las Vegas Valley.

Policy 7.5-4 Backflow Protection System

Enhance the Backflow Protection program to keep pollutants out of the water supply.

Policy 7.5-5 Water Rights

Effectively manage the City's groundwater rights and continuously seek ways to finance the purchase, or otherwise obtain, additional water rights to provide water supply to the City.

Policy 7.5-6 Water Conservation

Promote water conservation measures throughout the city through education and incentives.

GOAL 7.6 AIR QUALITY

The city will work to improve air quality both locally and regionally.

Policy 7.6-1 Air Quality Advocacy

Promote good air quality measures through public education and partnering with the Department of Environment and Sustainability to assist in this effort.

Policy 7.6-2 Standards Compliance

Ensure developments and redevelopments comply with local, state, and national air quality standards.

Policy 7.6-3 Energy Efficiency

Encourage energy efficiency and conservation through construction techniques and materials that reduce air pollution from utilities.

Policy 7.6-4 Reduce Vehicle Travel

Promote the use of alternative modes of transportation including mass transit, walking, bicycling, trail-ways, and car-pooling.

Policy 7.6-5 Reduce Vehicle Trips

Encourage greater land use mix and a high level of connectivity to reduce the length, number, and duration of vehicle trips. Enhance routes with wayfinding elements to

promote active transportation as a viable alternative to vehicle trips.

Policy 7.6-6 Air Quality Ordinances

Encourage the adoption of ordinances that improve air quality to levels that protect public health and improve visual clarity.

GOAL 7.7 FLOOD CONTROL

The city will provide trails and recreational facilities as part of flood-control facilities.

Policy 7.7-1 Flood Right-of-Way

Acquire adequate rights-of-way to allow multi-purpose use of flood control facilities.

Policy 7.7-2 Retrofit Existing Facilities

Strive to create programs to retrofit existing flood channels and detentions basins with trails and other recreational amenities.

GOAL 7.8 POWER

The city will continue to jointly plan, coordinate, and cooperate with the Nevada Office of Energy, Bureau of Land Management, adjacent jurisdictions and private utility companies, such as the NV Energy, to ensure safe, reliable electrical services.

(See Figure A-9: Transmission Line and Substation Plan in Appendix A.)

Policy 7.8-1 Substation Planning

Coordinate with NV Energy in the location and design of future power substations to ensure they are designed and buffered to match or improve the aesthetics of surrounding development.

Policy 7.8-2 Transmission Line Corridors

Continue to work to underground utility lines whenever possible. Minimize the number of overhead transmission line corridors through coordination and upgrades to existing corridors. Ensure new overhead transmission lines are located in accordance with all applicable criteria. Any requests to amend, create, or delete corridors identified on the Transmission Line and Substation Plan shall be processed as a Comprehensive Master Plan amendment.

Policy 7.8-3 Multi-Use Utility Corridors

If existing corridors can not meet utility demand, encourage the development of new multi-use utility corridors that ensure safe siting of transmission lines to minimize impacts on existing development.

Policy 7.8-4 Corridor Coordination

Encourage the development of transmission capability and interconnectivity for distributed energy, cogeneration and alternative energy sources, including regional interconnectivity and transmission capability.

Policy 7.8-5 Recreational Uses

Implement the use of utility corridors for potential active and passive recreational uses.

GOAL 7.9 URBAN AGRICULTURE

The City will collaborate with other organizations to identify opportunities to promote urban farming and community gardening.

North Las Vegas

Policy 7.9-1 Community Gardening Encourage the development of community gardens throughout the City by amending city codes and policies to promote urban farming, farmers markets and farm stands.

Policy 7.9-2 Garden / Farming Opportunities Establish a process to inventory vacant city lands for suitability for urban farming and gardening. Consider including parks, community centers and other City facilities in the inventory.

Policy 7.9-3 Sustainable Gardens / Farms Encourage the use of alternative farming techniques to promote water conservation. Promote the planting of crops suitable for Southern Nevada’s arid climate and extreme heat.

Policy 7.9-4 Farming Education Programs Support educational opportunities for urban farming.

GOAL 7.10 HEAT RESILIENCY Heat resiliency focuses on practical strategies and specific actions that reduce heat exposure, improve public health and integrate heat-risk into long-term planning. The City will work to improve heat resiliency, both locally and regionally.

Policy 7.10-1 Extreme Heat Response Develop a plan for extreme heat response when outside temperatures exceed 105 degrees.

Policy 7.10-2 Extreme Heat Warnings Implement a communication plan for extreme heat warnings, including a heat alert system.

Policy 7.10-3 Regional Heat Resiliency Collaborate with local municipalities and regional agencies to develop and promote programs regarding heat safety.

Policy 7.10-4 Resilience Hubs Work with local and regional agencies to establish a network of resilience hubs. Resilience hubs are opportunities to efficiently improve emergency management, reduce climate pollution and enhance community resilience.

Policy 7.10-5 Urban Forestry Program Establish a strategic, data driven urban forestry program to help reduce extreme heat, improve public health, and enhance environmental resilience.

Policy 7.10-6 Urban Forestry Heat Mitigation Program Implement a 15-year Urban Forestry Heat Mitigation Program focused on equity, targeted tree planting, strategic species selection, and data driven deployment.

Policy 7.10-7 Municipal Tree Inventory Develop a tree canopy study and maintain a database of the tree inventory.

Policy 7.10-8 Urban Tree Canopy Utilize the tree inventory to establish goals for expansion of the urban tree canopy.

Policy 7.10-9 Tree and Shrub Planting

Chapter 3: Guiding Principles

Commit to planting 5,000 trees and shrubs before 2032 to address the heat tolerance issue.

Policy 7.10-10 Parking Lot Tree Canopy Coverage

Evaluate existing tree planting requirements in parking lots to ensure viability of tree canopy coverage, and consider increasing minimum requirements.

Policy 7.10-11 Xeriscaping

Promote xeriscape landscape design throughout the City. Xeriscaping is a sustainable landscape method that reduces the need for irrigation by utilizing drought-tolerant plants, mulch, hardscape and efficient design.

Policy 7.10-12 Water Efficient Trees and Plants

Install water efficient and desert adaptive tree and plant species at all City facilities.

Policy 7.10-13 Tree City USA

Maintain the City's designation as a Tree City USA through urban forest management efforts.

Policy 7.10-14 Arbor Day

Host annual Arbor Day festivities to promote the importance of trees in our community.

Policy 7.10-15 Horticultural Outreach Program

Develop educational programs focused on planting and maintenance protocols and best practices to help ensure the longevity of the urban forest.

Policy 7.10-16 Horticultural Partnership Opportunities

Expand partnership opportunities with non-profit organizations to support tree supply and planting.

Policy 7.10-17 Shading Playgrounds

Increase shading of playgrounds at all parks to expand usability.

Policy 7.10-18 Shading Public Pools

Increase shading around public pools.

Policy 7.10-19 Shading Parking

Encourage the use of covered parking for commercial and industrial developments.

Policy 7.10-20 Shading Transit Stops

Partner with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada to add shading at transit stops.

Policy 7.10-21 Public Cooling Centers

Establish a process to enhance and expand the programming of public cooling centers.

Policy 7.10-22 Public Drinking Water Access

Convert municipal drinking fountains to include bottle filling stations in public parks, recreation centers, libraries, and resilience hubs.

Policy 7.10-23 Expansion of Drinking Water Facilities

Consider adding drinking fountains and bottle filling stations to all trailheads. Incorporate drinking water fountains and

North Las Vegas

bottle filling stations in new park facilities and other public spaces where feasible.

Policy 7.10-24 Urban Design Encourage urban design practices that promote the use of sustainable site selection and materials.

Policy 7.10-25 Green Building Practices Encourage green building practices that promote resource efficiency and conservation to help minimize environmental impacts.

Policy 7.10-26 Cool Building Practices Encourage the use of design techniques and passive cooling strategies to help reduce heat absorption.

Guiding Principle 8

A Safe and Livable

Community

*North Las Vegas will become “Your Community of Choice” by offering its residents a safe community with a strong sense of unity. Pedestrian- oriented design in line with the 10 Smart Growth principles (see page 16) serves to encourage increased interaction between residents. Residents work to enhance a safe, attractive environment within their neighborhoods. Well-

planned safety services offer residents a highly responsive emergency response system when needed.

North Las Vegas will achieve this vision by attaining the following goals:

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Improvements along subdivision walls, such as landscaping, foster a more attractive environment.

GOAL 8.1 A SAFE COMMUNITY

The City will support safety through design, community building efforts, and code enforcement.

Policy 8.1-1 Lighting Implement street and walkway lighting to promote a safe and attractive pedestrian environment.

Policy 8.1-2 Safety Technologies Promote the incorporation of public safety technologies into new and existing developments, including placement of buildings and other features to maximize visibility and define public versus private

space, as well as other considerations such as lighting and security.

Goal 8.2 Emergency Response

The city will have well-staffed and supported systems of emergency response.

Policy 8.2-1 Safety Services Staffing

Continually assess staffing needs as the city grows and ensure safety services have optimal staffing and facilities.

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The Police and Fire Departments will need to continue to expand to keep pace with growth.

Policy 8.2-2 Safety Services Equipment

Continually budget for and improve the equipment and capacity of the public safety services.

Goal 8.3 Code Enforcement

The city will promote community preservation and long-term neighborhood stabilization efforts through the use of Code Enforcement personnel.

Policy 8.3-1 Community Preservation

Through Code Enforcement, public nuisances, safety issues and unsightly conditions can be greatly reduced to ensure preservation of City neighborhoods and a reduction of blighted conditions.

Policy 8.3-2 Long-Term Neighborhood Stabilization

The city will budget for and improve the role of Code Enforcement to enhance public safety, and ensure stabilization, particularly in the more mature areas of the City.

Goal 8.4 Active Neighborhoods

The city will promote and support citizen-driven efforts that enhance the safety and appearance of its neighborhoods.

Policy 8.4-1 Community Watch

Support and expand community watch and other programs to strengthen and support neighborhoods.

Policy 8.4-2 Support the Community

Work with Homeowner's Associations and other neighborhood and community groups to support citizen involvement and community-building activities.

Policy 8.4-3 Interactive Pedestrian Environment

Develop wayfinding to create, promote and encourage active pedestrian environments thereby increasing natural surveillance throughout the community.

Guiding Principle 9

Community Spirit, Relationships, and Pride

North Las Vegas will become "Your Community of Choice" where residents possess a high level of community pride. They enjoy the sense of community, numerous amenities, and attractive centers and neighborhoods, and are actively engaged in activities to safeguard and enhance their community.

North Las Vegas will achieve this vision by attaining the following goals:

GOAL 9.1 GATEWAYS AND CORRIDORS

The city will create attractive gateways and corridors with a clear sense of place.

Policy 9.2-1 Gateway Beautification

Create and seek funding to finance a program for the beautification of major community gateways, such as the interchanges of Interstate 15 and the I-215 Beltway.

Policy 9.2-2 Distinctive Corridors

Develop corridors with a distinct sense of place through the use of signage, banners, trees, and design guidelines that help denote entry and define a sense of place.

(See Figure 5-4: Designing Gateways and Districts, p. 56.)

Policy 9.2-3 Public Infrastructure

Create great civic spaces by locating and designing major public buildings and infrastructure in a manner that enhances and integrates into their surroundings. Create a City Campus with a strong civic identity, with gathering places and pedestrian connections.

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City facilities' design should create attractive and distinctive, connected places.

GOAL 9.2 CIVIC INVOLVEMENT

The city will offer its residents numerous opportunities for meaningful civic involvement.

Policy 9.2-1 E-Government

Expand the use and access to online government services throughout the city.

Policy 9.2-2 Community Recognition

Create citizen awards to recognize businesses and individuals who work to strengthen their community through positive action.

Chapter 3: Guiding Principles

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Many community services are provided through collaborative partnerships.

GOAL 9.3 COMMUNITY SERVICES

The city will coordinate with other organizations to provide expanded services and foster a positive community image.

Policy 9.3-1 City Beautiful

Develop a City Beautification Program offering City Beautification grants to empower community members to take action within their neighborhoods.

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Neighborhood amenities, such as parks and recreation facilities, foster a shared sense of community

Guiding Principle 10

Fiscal Policies and Management

North Las Vegas will become "Your Community of Choice" in which citizens' have a high level of confidence and pride in their efficient and responsive local government. The city consistently plans, prioritizes, finances, and implements projects to ensure the long term quality of life for the community. Collaborations and grant opportunities are maximized to enhance the levels of service in an efficient manner.

North Las Vegas will achieve this vision by attaining the following goals:

GOAL 10.1 CAPITAL FACILITIES PLANNING

The city will coordinate its capital facilities planning with growth and development decisions.

Policy 10.1-1 Interdepartmental Coordination

Increase communication and cooperation between departments of city government to better coordinate the evaluation, planning, and prioritization of projects where overlaps exist.

Policy 10.1-2 Paying for Services

Encourage new development to pay for the services it requires. Create an evaluation tool to assess and evaluate public costs associated with new development and implement cost-

North Las Vegas

sharing mechanisms and programs by working with the development community.

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The fast pace of development necessitates a well-organized, efficient approach to planning and implementing additional infrastructure and services.

Policy 10.1-3 Well-Paced Growth

Ensure that development does not exceed the capacity of the city to provide and maintain infrastructure and services.

GOAL 10.2 FISCAL

EFFICIENCY The city will employ a variety of funding and service provision strategies to offer a high level of service in an efficient manner.

Policy 10.2-1 Fiscal

Management Policy Establish and adopt a long-term fiscal management policy to implement the Comprehensive Plan.

Policy 10.2-2 Infrastructure

Investment Plan Create a plan to guide investment into the construction and maintenance of the city’s infrastructure.

Policy 10.2-3 Pursue Multiple

Funding Sources Identify and utilize grant, federal, and state funding sources as well as municipal bonds and other fixed income sources.

CHAPTER 4: LAND USE PLAN

The Land Use Plan identifies future land uses for the City of North Las Vegas. It shows the distribution of residential, non-residential, mixed-use, and civic or public land uses. This chapter contains the Land Use Plan map (see Figure 4-1) and a description of each category shown on it. There are three sets of land use categories:

• Residential
• Non-Residential
• Mixed-Use

Each land use category description contains a listing of primary and secondary uses and a description of desired characteristics and location. In some cases, the land use description may reference Principles of Design, located within Chapter 5, to provide more clear direction as to desired components of a development within this category.

Land use categories that allow for residential uses also include a permitted density (dwelling units per acre). Densities are expressed as a range, up to a maximum density for each land use category. The maximum density in each of these categories shall not be considered to be a “given” right and will be dependent on the specific location and design of each proposed project, to be evaluated on its own merits. The system for evaluating density is explained in the Residential Density Evaluation Criteria in Chapter 5.

Residential

Ranch Estates

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Neighborhoods in the Ranch Estates District illustrate the traditional estate-style of development in southern Nevada.

DENSITY RANGE: Up to 2 dwelling units (du)/acre.

PRIMARY USES: Single-family dwellings.

SECONDARY USES: Public and recreational uses including parks, cemeteries, child care facilities, golf courses, schools, public buildings, utility buildings or equipment, churches, aviaries, and private horse stables.

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION: This category applies directly to those properties currently designated as Ranch Estates in accordance with existing zoning. These neighborhoods tend to be varied in scale and design with mature landscaping and no walls internal to the residential neighborhoods. The intent of this category is to protect and enhance existing Ranch Estates

residential areas in the western portion of the city.

Master Planned Community

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Master Planned Communities are large developments that offer a variety of housing, as well as integrated parks, trails, and neighborhood centers.

DENSITY RANGE: Case-by-case

PRIMARY USES: Primary uses include a mix of single family attached and detached homes as well as multi-family residences.

SECONDARY USES: Master Planned Community (MPC) developments are strongly encouraged to incorporate one or more mixed-use neighborhood centers that include a mix of employment, commercial, services, and high-density housing. Sufficient amenities including libraries, recreation centers, parks, open space, golf courses, schools, and other public or semi-public uses are also allowed and should be designed so as to help facilitate pedestrian and bicycle movement throughout the community. (See Chapter 5: Principles of Design, Master Planned Community Principles of Design, p.46.)

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION: New Master Planned Community development dominates the northern portion of the city, currently within the BLM disposal boundary. Neighborhoods should be developed in an integrated, pedestrian-friendly manner, with a strong emphasis on connectivity both internally and to surrounding areas, and should not be overly dominated by any one land use or housing type. Parks and open space areas should be well-integrated into the development and help facilitate uninterrupted and safe pedestrian movement.

Single-Family Low

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This residential street is typical of the style of single family residential neighborhoods throughout the city and Valley.

DENSITY RANGE: Base density of 4.5 du/acre; up to 6 du/acre. (See Residential Density Evaluation Criteria, p.59.)

PRIMARY USES: Conventional single-family detached residences; small-lot single family residences.

SECONDARY USES: Parks, open space, golf courses, schools, churches, and other public or semi-public uses.

Chapter 4: Land Use Plan

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION: The Single-Family Low residential designation occurs in developed neighborhoods throughout the city. Each development maintains a consistent architectural style and scale. Infill, redevelopment, or new development projects in these areas should be consistent with the prevailing character of the neighborhood. Development at the higher range of the allowable density for this category will be required to meet higher density standards. (See Residential Density Evaluation Criteria, p.59.)

Single-Family Medium

⬚ figure This development incorporates water saving desert landscaping. Varied setbacks and orientation of structures offer visual interest.

DENSITY RANGE: Base density of 6.01 du/acre; up to 13 du/acre . (See Residential Density Evaluation Criteria, p.59.)

PRIMARY USES: Single-family detached and attached residences such as duplexes and townhomes.

SECONDARY USES: Parks, open space, golf courses, schools, churches, and other public or semi-public uses.

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION: The Single-Family Medium residential designation occurs in developed neighborhoods throughout the city. Each development maintains a consistent architectural style and scale and typically is surrounded by a wall. Infill projects adjacent to these developments should be consistent with the prevailing character of the neighborhood and work to create points of continuity or connection from the old to new development, both visually and physically. Development at the higher range of the allowable density for this category will be required to meet higher density standards. (See Residential Density Evaluation Criteria, p.59.)

Multi-Family

⬚ figure This multi-family infill project offers variety in façade color, materials, and articulation while maintaining a united sense of place.

DENSITY RANGE: Up to 25 du/acre.

PRIMARY USES: Multi-family residential development including condominiums and apartments.

SECONDARY USES: Common open space areas, parks, golf courses, schools, churches, and other public or semi-public uses.

North Las Vegas Comprehensive

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION: The Multi-Family residential designation occurs in developed neighborhoods throughout the city, typically along a major roadway and near higher intensity uses such as commercial and employment uses. Individual developments typically have their own parking facilities and common open space areas. Infill, redevelopment, or new developments should seek to draw a strong connection to nearby uses including employment, commercial, parks, and other services and amenities. Connectivity should be emphasized in site design to promote pedestrian activity and access. Where transit is planned for or available, developments should be oriented towards transit facilities to promote its use.

Non-Residential

Neighborhood Commercial

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Neighborhood Commercial areas offer attractive, pedestrian environments that are well connected through design, use, and a multi-modal circulation network to the adjacent neighborhoods they serve.

PRIMARY USES: General retail to serve neighborhoods and the community.

SECONDARY USES: Supporting uses may include office, open space and recreation, and other public facilities.

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION: Neighborhood Commercial uses should have a direct relationship to adjacent or nearby residential communities in their use, accessibility, scale, and character. Neighborhood commercial centers should be located at the intersection of two 80 foot streets or at the intersection of a collector and an arterial. In addition to vehicular access, these developments should provide for safe, direct, and convenient access to pedestrian, bicycle, and, where appropriate, transit users.

Chapter 4: Land Use Plan

Community Commercial

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Community Commercial centers provide goods and services to the larger community. These centers vary in size and can include larger retailers.

PRIMARY USES:

General retail including some service businesses and restaurants.

SECONDARY USES:

Supporting uses include parks, office, places of worship, and other public or semi-public uses.

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION:

Community Commercial uses include large and mid-size retail establishments (i.e., supermarkets and general retailers) that provide goods and services to the entire community. Community Commercial centers should be located at the intersection of two 100 foot streets or at the intersection of two arterial streets. In addition to vehicular access, these developments should employ the principles of pedestrian-friendly design to provide for safe and convenient access to pedestrian, bicycle, and, where appropriate, transit users.

Resort Commercial

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Casinos are common and large economic generatosr throughout the valley.

PRIMARY USES:

Casinos.

SECONDARY USES:

Supporting uses include civic open spaces, retail, and office.

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION:

Resort Commercial activities are located within designated gaming areas, typically along major arterials or interchange areas of the beltway or highway. These all-hour facilities should be appropriately located with regard to residential or other lower-intensity uses. Site design should seek to minimize negative impacts of traffic, noise, and glare.

North Las Vegas Comprehensive

Public/Semi Public

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The city’s new justice facility has been a beautiful addition to the Downtown.

PRIMARY USES: Public or semi-public offices, government facilities, libraries, churches, schools, colleges and universities, military, cemeteries, safety services, utilities, or airport uses.

SECONDARY USES: Parks and open space.

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION: Public/Semi-Public uses are distributed throughout the city and serve some public need or function. These uses should work to create positive and attractive public spaces by incorporating facilities in site design elements that promote civic activity including benches, shaded areas, and public squares.

Parks and Open Space

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City View Park offers its visitors playground facilities, picnic tables, and welcome shade.

PRIMARY USES: Parks, recreation, golf courses, playing fields, and open space.

SECONDARY USES: Public recreation facilities, picnic facilities, pools, playground equipment, and open air vending.

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION: Parks and open space facilities are located throughout the community. Each design should seek to integrate the open space area into the adjacent community. Open space and trail linkages, where practicable, should be used to create community-wide pedestrian and bicycle connections.

Chapter 4: Land Use Plan

Employment

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Employment uses offer opportunities for primary jobs and help create a more balanced land use mix.

PRIMARY USES:

Office and low-intensity industrial uses.

SECONDARY USES:

Supporting uses including restaurants, limited commercial activity, churches, parks and open space.

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION:

Employment uses are generally located along major arterials. These uses provide primary employment activity in fully enclosed operations and may serve as a use transition between heavy industrial activity and other, less intensive use areas. Site design should seek to minimize any negative impacts of traffic, noise, and glare through appropriate site design and buffering.

Heavy Industrial

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Industrial activity is an important aspect of the land use mix and employment base of the city and should be retained in the future.

PRIMARY USES:

Higher-intensity industrial activities including manufacturing, processing, warehousing, storage, shipping, and other uses similar in function or intensity.

SECONDARY USES:

Supporting uses including office, commercial uses supporting industrial development, and open space.

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION:

Heavy Industrial uses are generally located within close proximity of the major transportation infrastructure of I-15 and the Union-Pacific rail line. These uses are heavier in traffic, noise, processes, or some other factor which requires adequate separation of use from residential areas. Where these uses are adjacent to an arterial roadway or residential area, adequate buffering and landscaping should be employed to reduce negative visual impacts from these uses as well as noise and light pollution. Site design should seek to minimize traffic, including traffic conflicts from shipping activity, through appropriate location and orientation of points of ingress/egress.

Mixed-Use

OVERALL APPROACH

Three mixed use categories have been designated within the Land Use Plan map around recognized current and future activity centers:

• Mixed-Use Neighborhood,
• Mixed-Use Commercial, and
• Mixed-Use Employment.

These categories are intended to provide a more unified, pedestrian-oriented design that is conducive to creating self-supporting areas; a broader mix of housing types and, where appropriate, higher densities; and areas where goods, services, and residences are conveniently located and accessed.

Each category contains two maximum allowable density levels. The first and lower density level applies for any area planned for the respective mixed-use category on the land use plan map. Allowable densities vary, based on the mix of housing types and level of amenities provided as part of the development plan.

The second and higher density level applies only within one-quarter mile of a designated future transit stop. If a parcel is not completely within the ¼ mile radius of a transit station but at least 50% of the parcel is within the ¼ mile distance radius, then the higher density limit may be applied to that parcel.

Future transit stations include stations designated by RTC that support either Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or Light Rail Transit (LRT). The additional densities within these station areas are intended to support increased use of transit infrastructure and should be developed according to the principles of transit-oriented design (TOD). See Chapter 5: Principles of Design, Transit-Oriented Development, p. 55.)

The maximum allowable densities within mixed-use areas are not a “by right” density level. Each category will retain the allowable density of current underlying zoning as a baseline density. In order to develop the property as a mixed-use, and therefore higher density product, the developer must incorporate various desired components to the overall development plan. These components, and their relationship to increased allowable densities, are explained below.

HOW WOULD MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE DENSITIES BE DETERMINED?

The mixed-use categories are intended to provide an opportunity for a greater degree of flexibility in allowable densities in order to promote developments that place a strong emphasis on high-quality site design, variety of housing types, and amenities. Within each mixed-use category, developments need to incorporate certain features and amenities in order to be granted a higher level of density. This list of features and amenities is based on a “menu” approach, whereby the developer can mix and match from the list of options in order to increase the allowable density of the development. Criteria for determining allowable density in mixed-use districts consist of three categories: mix of housing types, building and site design, and site amenities. Each category contains a list of possible design components that the developer can incorporate into the development plan.

This list and the manner in which the city will evaluate the projects is described further in Chapter 5. This residential density bonus system will be implemented through the Municipal Code.

Chapter 4: Land Use Plan

Mixed-Use Neighborhood

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Mixed-Use Neighborhoods should incorporate a neighborhood center into the overall design.

DENSITY RANGE:

Base density of 6.01 du/acre; up to 18 du/acre

Base density within one quarter mile of a designated future transit station location 6.01 du/acre; up to 25 du/acre.

(See Residential Density Evaluation Criteria, p.59.)

PRIMARY USES:

Mixed-Use Neighborhood areas are predominantly residential areas that may also contain any of the secondary uses as a component of the development. The Mixed-Use Neighborhood category is intended to promote self-supporting neighborhoods that contain a variety of residential housing types such as single-family residences, duplexes, patio homes, townhomes, apartments, condominiums, and live-work units. Residential land uses should typically occupy at least 75% of the ground area of any site within this category, but may vary as long as the site contains predominantly residential uses.

SECONDARY USES:

Developments within the Mixed-Use Neighborhood category may also include neighborhood-based commercial and office activity, open space, parks, plazas, and other public or quasi-public uses as appropriate, such as schools, places of worship, libraries, and community centers.

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION:

Mixed-Use Neighborhoods should be developed in an integrated, pedestrian-friendly manner, with a strong emphasis on connectivity both internally and to surrounding areas, and should not be overly dominated by any one land use or housing type. These neighborhoods are intended to provide active areas of higher density; uses may be mixed horizontally or vertically. Where appropriate, these developments should be oriented to support mass transit options.

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A range of housing type and pricing is encouraged in Mixed-Use Neighborhood areas, including attainable housing options.

Mixed Use Commercial

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This vertically mixed commercial center offers commercial, office, and residential development in one active center.

Density Range:

Up to 25 du/acre

Density Range within one quarter-mile of a designated future transit station location or within any Specific Planning Area – Activity Center: Up to 50 du/acre

Primary Uses:

Mixed-Use Commercial areas are predominantly commercial areas (retail, commercial, and office/employment) that may also contain any of the secondary uses as a component of the development. The Mixed-Use Commercial category is intended to promote areas with a range of retail and commercial land uses, as well as a variety of medium and higher density residential development. Non-residential land uses should typically occupy at least 75% of the ground area of any site within this category, but may vary as long as the predominant uses on the site are commercial.

Secondary Uses:

Developments within the Mixed-Use Commercial category may also include a variety of medium and higher density residential uses, open space, parks, plazas, and other public or quasi-public uses as appropriate, such as schools, places of worship, libraries, and community centers.

Characteristics and Location:

Mixed-Use Commercial developments should contain a mix of complementary and connected uses (such as retail, offices, and residential) with a variety of densities as well as lively public spaces. The design of mixed-use areas should emphasize pedestrian comfort and safety and should include and support connections to other parts of the community. Mixed-Use Commercial areas should be developed in an integrated, pedestrian friendly manner and should not be overly dominated by any one land use type. At least 75% of the ground area should generally be developed for commercial uses within these areas, and uses may be mixed either vertically or horizontally. Where appropriately located, these developments should be oriented to support transit services.

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On street parking and compact buildings make this mixed-use commercial area easily navigable by pedestrians.

Mixed Use Employment

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Shade structures are an important component to outdoor spaces in southern Nevada.

Density Range:

Up to 25 du/acre

Density Range within one quarter-mile of a designated future transit station location:

Up to 50 du/acre

Primary Uses:

Mixed-Use Employment areas are predominantly employment areas (light industrial, professional services, office uses) that may also contain any of the secondary uses as a component of the development. Employment-oriented land uses should typically occupy at least 75% of the ground area of any site within this category, but may vary as long as the predominant uses on the site are commercial.

Secondary Uses:

Developments within the Mixed-Use Employment category may also include a variety of retail and service uses, medium and higher density residential uses and live-work units, open space, parks, plazas, and other public or quasi-public uses as appropriate, such as schools, places of worship, libraries, and community centers.

Characteristics and Location:

Mixed-Use Employment areas should be located near collector or arterial streets or transit facilities. The intent is to create an employment center environment that also offers convenient opportunities for access to goods and services, restaurants, places to live, parks, open space and civic uses. Employment uses should generally occupy at least 75% of the total ground area of the site, and uses may be mixed either vertically or horizontally. Mixed-Use Employment areas should be developed in an integrated, pedestrian friendly "campus" area. Where appropriate, these developments should be oriented to support mass transit options.

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Mixed-Use Employment areas should focus on providing uses supportive of the primary employers such as retail, restaurants, and high-density housing.

This page blank.

Insert Figure 4-1: Land Use Plan map after this page.

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FIGURE 4-1: LAND USE PLAN

Land Use

RESIDENTIAL

• Ranch Estates (up to 2 du/ac)
• Master Planned Community
• Single Family Low (up to 6 du/ac)
• Single Family Medium (up to 13 du/ac)
• Multi-Family (up to 25 du/ac)

NON-RESIDENTIAL

• Open Space
• Neighborhood Commercial
• Resort Commercial
• Community Commercial
• Public/Semi Public
• Downtown Business District
• Downtown Area of Influence
• Employment
• Heavy Industrial

MIXED-USE

• Mixed-Use Neighborhood
• Mixed-Use Commercial
• Mixed-Use Employment

Transportation

• Existing Transit Route
• Future North 5th Transit Route
• Future Transit Influence Area
• Future North 5th Transit Station
• Main Streets
• Union-Pacific Railroad

Boundaries

• BLM Disposal Boundary

This information is for display purposes only. No liability is assumed as to the accuracy of the data delineated hereon.

0 1 2 Miles

CLARION Date: November 2006 Source: City of North Las Vegas GIS, 2000 Census TIGER files, Clarion Associates

LAND USE PLAN

North Las Vegas

CHAPTER 5: PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN AND RESIDENTIAL DENSITY EVALUATION CRITERIA

Through this Comprehensive Plan, the city is focused on improving the quality of design within the community to offer an attractive, thriving environment for residents and visitors to live, work, and play. This chapter contains more detailed guidance on how development, redevelopment, and infill projects should be designed to meet the long-term goals expressed in this Plan. Where directly referenced within one of the Land Use Categories, the appropriate “Principles of Design” should be used in reviewing projects within the given land use category.

In addition, this chapter provides a detailed explanation of how residential density should be determined for the several residential land use categories displayed in Figure 4-1: Land Use Plan map. This explanation illustrates the decision-making framework that will be used by the city to promote quality, predictability, and transparency in the residential development process. This will be implemented through the city’s development regulations.

Principles of Design

INTENT AND APPLICABILITY

The following Principles of Design provide guidance on desired design elements for new developments in the city. These principles are divided into three general categories, each addressing a particular type of development:

• Master Planned Communities,
• Mixed-Use Development, and
• Transit-Oriented Development.

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An overarching objective of this plan is to achieve high-quality design in new, infill, and redevelopment projects throughout the city.

Chapter 5: Principles of

Each set of principles describes where they are to be applied. In addition, this section contains detailed descriptions to provide further guidance on two concepts included in each of the three categories: designing for pedestrians and creating a distinct sense of place. These are intended to offer another, more detailed, layer of description on how developments can achieve those two concepts.

Master Planned Communities

WHERE ARE THE PRINCIPLES TO BE APPLIED?

Master Planned Community development will continue to be a significant trend in residential areas within the city. As the Bureau of Land Management releases land for auction to private developers, it is anticipated that this land will develop as Master Planned Communities, as illustrated on the Land Use Plan map. Given the ever-changing market within the valley, the description for this land use category does not denote a specific density or density range. Rather, the emphasis is on the quality of site and building design. New Master Planned Communities (MPCs) (see Figure 6-1: Planning Framework) should adhere to the four principles described below. Evaluation and negotiation of allowable densities will be tied to the ability and willingness of the developer to achieve these principles.

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The variety in housing style and setbacks of this residential street create an inviting neighborhood.

Principle 1: MPCs Should Provide a Variety of Housing Types and Character

HOW IS THIS PRINCIPLE ACCOMPLISHED?

• The development provides a range of housing options and densities from single-family neighborhoods with a mix of housing types and lot sizes to apartments, townhomes, and high density lofts.
• The variety of housing options in the development offer a range of pricing to meet the needs of people at different income levels as well as with different housing needs. Variety of housing type and price are included within a single neighborhood (mixed income neighborhood) rather than segregated within different areas of the MPC.
• The development has a unified sense of place, a distinctive image, and avoids homogenous, “look-alike” development.

See Figure 5-1: Developing Mixed-Use Neighborhoods.

North Las Vegas

Figure 5-1: Developing Mixed-Use Neighborhoods

Developing Mixed Neighborhoods

Mix of Housing Types

Any one neighborhood should contain a variety of residential housing types and densities – from single family detached homes to townhomes and apartments. Incorporating a variety of housing options within a neighborhood provides greater housing choice, both type and pricing, and helps support commercial activity in neighborhood centers. High-quality site and building design can incorporate a variety of housing while retaining a common sense of place through attention to building and landscape design.

⬚ figure ⬚ figure ⬚ figure

Variety of Design

⬚ figure ⬚ figure

A variety of setbacks, facade materials, colors, models, landscaping, and street-facing facades with porches rather than garages make neighborhoods attractive and inviting. This is true of both single-family (above) and multi-family development (below).

⬚ figure ⬚ figure

Site Planning for Mixed Neighborhoods

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This site design centers around the civic spaces of a park and school easily accessed by streets and trails. The mixed-use neighborhood center is supported by higher density housing and is easily accessed from all areas via a “green” network of sidewalks and trails.

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This site design has limited connections to adjacent neighborhoods or other areas within the development. There are distinctly separate single and multi-family areas. The neighborhood center is separated from the rest of the neighborhood by the multi-family development and is only accessible by the arterial roadway.

Chapter 5: Principles of

Figure 5-2: Designing Neighborhood Centers

Designing Neighborhood Centers

1. Design Around a Park

In a Neighborhood Center, parks and plazas serve as a uniting feature, a focal point for social interaction around which development occurs. These parks can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, depending on the overall design of the area.

This park area offers an oasis within the center with shade trees, a fountain, and outdoor seating.

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This park offers a relaxed social space for the center with shade, walking paths, seating, and desert gardens.

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2. Create Inviting Mixed-Use Environments

Mixed-use centers, whether mixed vertically or horizontally, offer residents convenient access to goods and services. Amenities such as street plantings, crosswalks, benches, shaded areas, on-street parking, and open storefronts offer visitors a safe and inviting environment.

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3. Integrate with Neighborhoods

A Neighborhood Center should relate strongly to the surrounding neighborhoods it serves. This relationship is established in a number of ways from physical to visual connections with surrounding neighborhoods.

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A connected system of trails through neighborhoods can link homes to the center and allow residents to access the center on foot or bike.

The design of the center – both buildings and landscaping – can use consistent elements such as color, facade accents, and building and landscape materials to relate to nearby residential development.

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Mixed-use centers offer areas of increased density, creating opportunities for incorporating additional housing variety within the community. Housing is an important component of mixed use centers, helping to support the commercial establishments and increasing the level of social activity both day and night.

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Principle 2: MPCs Should Contain One or More Mixed-Use Neighborhood Centers to Provide Residents Opportunities for Jobs, Housing, Goods, and Services

How is this principle accomplished?

• The MPC design incorporates one or more mixed-use “Neighborhood Centers.” These offer retail goods and services as well as higher-density housing and are well-integrated through compatible scale, design, and transportation access - streets, trails, and sidewalks - to the surrounding neighborhoods.
• The Neighborhood Center is built around a central park or plaza that serves as a focal feature and civic space for the surrounding development.

See Figure 5-2: Designing Neighborhood Centers.

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Neighborhood centers include convenience retail and services, but can also contain office space and residences.

Principle 3: MPCs Should Provide a Connected System of Trails, Parks, and Open Space

How is this principle accomplished?

• The MPC provides a number of neighborhood parks throughout the development that are easily accessible to residents. These parks provide a range of amenities to support the recreational needs of a diverse population.
• Neighborhoods are linked to each other, neighborhood center(s), and parks via a connected system of trails and open space.
• The system of trails and open space within the development connects into the citywide and/or regional trails network.
• The system of parks, trails, and open space builds upon the natural attributes of the landscape (e.g., washes, slopes, and existing vegetation) and is designed with water-efficient, natural landscaping.

Chapter 5: Principles of

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Trails should connect housing, parks, and centers within an MPC.

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This mixed-use center provides amenities and design features such as wide sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, stylized lighting, and coordinated landscaping to promote pedestrian activity.

Principle 4: MPCs Should Promote Multi-Modal Travel Through Building and Street Design

HOW IS THIS PRINCIPLE ACCOMPLISHED?

• The connected system of trails and sidewalks accommodate both bicycle and pedestrian circulation and promote its use through a variety of amenities including benches, lighting, and multiple and convenient points of access.
• Mixed-use neighborhood centers are designed to promote pedestrian activity through building design, scale, and spacing as well as amenities such as connective trails and sidewalks, lighting, benches, and safe street crossings.

See Figure 5-3: Designing Pedestrian-Friendly Places.

North Las Vegas

Mixed-Use Development

WHERE ARE THE PRINCIPLES TO BE APPLIED?

The Future Land Use Plan map illustrates three mixed-use land use categories:

• Mixed-Use Neighborhood
• Mixed-Use Commercial
• Mixed-Use Employment

Mixed-Use Neighborhood and Mixed-Use Commercial development is identified within activity centers. In addition, the inclusion of these types of mixed use is encouraged within neighborhoods as infill or redevelopment and new Master Planned Communities to offer distinctive neighborhood “centers.” Mixed-Use Employment is designated within the Northern Development Area and in and around the Cheyenne Technology Corridor. The intent of these areas is to promote live-work opportunities and offer the convenience of supportive services for a “campus” style business environment. The following Principles of Design should be incorporated into all areas of mixed-use development within the city.

THE TYPES OF MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT

Mixed-use developments should contain a mix of complementary and connected uses (such as retail, offices, and residential) with a variety of densities as well as lively public spaces. The design of mixed-use areas should emphasize pedestrian comfort and safety and should include and support connections to other parts of the community. Mixed-use development can occur in two primary configurations: vertical mixed-use or horizontal mixed-use.

⬚ figure

Vertical mixed-use refers to two or more land-use types within a building, occurring on different floors. A typical example of a vertical mixed-use building would incorporate active uses such as stores, offices, and restaurants at the street level and residential or office uses on the upper floors.

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Horizontal mixed-use refers to a pattern where several types of uses or buildings are included as part of a cohesive development in proximity to each other with each building containing its

Chapter 5: Principles of

own separate use. An example would be a development site that might include an area for residential uses, an office building, and a retail center. They would be designed as a set of coordinated uses with common parking areas, strong pedestrian connections, and similar design features, but they would contain separate uses in each building.

Principle 1: Mixed-Use

Development Should Contain Uses that Complement and Support Each Other

HOW IS THIS PRINCIPLE

ACCOMPLISHED?

• The uses within the development are mutually supportive and in keeping with the use emphasis portrayed on the Future Land Use Plan map. For example, an area of mixed-use employment emphasizes primary employment activity and contains uses that support the needs of these businesses and their employees such as offices, restaurants, and high- density housing; a mixed-use commercial center contains numerous retail establishments as well as restaurants, offices, residences, entertainment, hotels, and other uses that compliment an active day-night destination.

⬚ figure

This vertical mixed-use development offers stores and restaurants on the first floor with residences and offices located above. The wide sidewalk, shade coverings, and landscaping promote pedestrian activity.

Principle 2: Mixed-Use

Development Should Be Compatible in Size and Scale with the Surrounding Area and Intended Function

HOW IS THIS PRINCIPLE

ACCOMPLISHED?

• The mixed-use area is compatible in design and scale with surrounding development. Where the mixed-use area is larger in size, increased density may be appropriate at the center of the development but should gradually transition to lower density as appropriate to transition into the adjacent development.
• The mixed-use development is at a size and scale appropriate to the market they are designed to serve and the context of the area in which they are located.

North Las Vegas

Principle 3: Mixed-Use Development Should Be Designed to Support Mobility and Circulation Using a Variety of Transportation Means

HOW IS THIS PRINCIPLE ACCOMPLISHED?

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Figure 5-3: Designing Pedestrian-Friendly Places

• The circulation pattern of the mixed-use development supports safe and convenient movement by pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and car.
• The development provides amenities to support multi-modal transportation including regularly spaced benches, lighting, bus shelters, bike racks, and safe crossings.

Chapter 5: Principles of

Designing Pedestrian-Friendly Places

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Pedestrian-Oriented Design is a key component for the desired design of future transit station areas, mixed-use activity centers, and neighborhood centers. Developments that incorporate some of the following elements offer mixed-use areas with a distinct sense of place and a bustling street life. These elements can serve to create a stronger sense of community and interaction, decrease traffic, and support small and local business activity.

Appropriate Use Mix and Density A well-designed mixed-use area includes a balanced mix of stores, services, and residences at appropriate densities to promote an active street life.

Buildings Designed for People, Not Cars Commercial storefronts are oriented to streets and pedestrians in their setbacks and proximity to each other.

Well-Planned Parking and Access Parking is placed on-street, behind or to the side of buildings, or in structured parking areas conveniently located to destination areas.

Amenities for Safety, Comfort, and Aesthetics Numerous pedestrian amenities are provided including public plazas or squares, areas of shade, benches, landscaping, lighting, crosswalks, way-finding signage, etc.

Connected Streets, Trails, and Sidewalks Sidewalks and trails have a high level of connectivity to promote pedestrian and bicycle travel.

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This commercial area offers a wide sidewalk for pedestrians, storefronts oriented to the sidewalks, short blocks, landscaping, and other amenities to support an attractive and safe environment. Parking is provided in lots behind the building or in parking structures, eliminating the need for up-front parking lots.

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This strip-style commercial plaza lacks landscaping and architectural variety between stores. The parking lot lines the entire front of the plaza and does not facilitate a safe or attractive pedestrian environment, nor does the lack of other amenities such as benches, lighting, or trash containers.

North Las Vegas

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Mixed-use developments should offer a healthy balance of housing, employment, and recreation.

Principle 4: Mixed-Use Development Should Be Designed to Provide an Active and Inviting Pedestrian Environment

HOW IS THIS PRINCIPLE ACCOMPLISHED?

• ☑ The development is designed so that distances between buildings and destinations remain short, safe, and inviting, and can be accessed using a connected system of streets, sidewalks, and trails.

• ☑ Buildings have street-level storefronts to provide visual interest to pedestrians. Restaurants at ground level provide areas of open-air/outdoor seating.

• ☑ The mixed-use development includes wide sidewalks, shade trees and structures, benches, lighting, public art, landscaped public spaces such as plazas, and other design features to make them vibrant and inviting places.

• ☑ Auto-serving amenities, such as parking, are placed on-street, in structured parking garages, or in lots at the rear or to the side of buildings to keep the focus of activity on the people and uses within the development.

See Figure 5-3: Designing Pedestrian-Friendly Places.

Transit-Oriented Development

WHERE ARE THESE PRINCIPLES TO BE APPLIED?

The future Land Use Plan map indicates the locations of several future transit station areas and their areas of influence. These stations reflect the location and planning framework of the North 5th Transit Supportive Corridor Plan. Transit-oriented design works to support the use of transit by creating station areas that are convenient, attractive, and active areas for people to live and visit. By creating station areas with a healthy mix of uses, compact development patterns, public spaces, and pedestrian amenities, station areas become destinations that further support the use of public transit. The concepts and principles discussed below are applicable for stations along transit corridors for either Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or Light Rail Transit (LRT).

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The development pattern for transit station areas is not so much a continuous corridor as it is a system of nodes along a transit route.

Successful transit-oriented projects generally adhere to the following principles in the design of station areas:

Principle 1: The Station Area Should Incorporate a Complementary Mix of Uses in an Economically Sustainable Manner

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This vertically mixed station area places residences over retail.

HOW IS THIS PRINCIPLE ACCOMPLISHED?

• As the station area is developed or redeveloped as a mixed-use area, the project is phased appropriately to be economically sustainable given market demand. Residential and office uses, for example, should precede supportive uses that will be more dependent on the activity of the area, such as restaurants and retail.
• The station area should incorporate a variety of housing, both type and range of price, into the overall use mix including affordable housing.
• Vertical mixed use development with active uses (such as retail and restaurant establishments) on the ground level is concentrated near the station area.

Figure 5-4: Designing Gateways and District

Designing Gateways and Districts

Districts… are particular areas within the city that possess a clear identity. This can be united around a cultural, artistic, activity, or other theme. Gateways… help establish positive and recognizable community image and identity, a stronger sense of place. They can be used to denote entry into the city or a district, such as the downtown. There are two primary types of gateways:

• Community Gateways are larger and share a common appearance with each other rather than to surrounding development.
• District Gateways are smaller gateways that denote entry into a certain area of the City and should be directly coordinated with the scheme of that district.

Where do these design recommendations apply? The following recommended components of design should be employed to create attractive gateways and districts within the City. This includes community gateways illustrated on Figure 6-1: Planning Framework map, as well as particular districts or areas wishing to establish a distinct identity or sense of place including neighborhood centers, the University-Medical District, Downtown, Cheyenne Technology Corridor, and Station Areas.

⬚ figure (Left and below) Common architectural style and building materials can help define an area, regardless of the type of use. ⬚ figure

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How is this accomplished? A well-designed Gateway or District should employ a variety of elements, as appropriate to the size and function, to clearly convey a distinct and attractive visual presence.

• Common architectural elements and building materials.
• A unified landscaping scheme.
• A coordinated system of amenities, such as signage, benches, lighting awnings, etc. that denote entry and presence within a distinct area.
• Incorporate a common theme, such as denoting a particular ethnic, historic, or use district.
• Employ banners and public art including sculpture, fountains, murals, and other detail work that provide a distinct appearance.

(Top) Common colors, materials, benches, landscaping and awnings define this district. (Bottom) Public art is a creative way to define a Gateway or District.

Principle 2: The Station Area Should Incorporate Public Spaces and Greenways into the Overall Development Plan

HOW IS THIS PRINCIPLE ACCOMPLISHED?

• ☑ The station area incorporates a public space, such as a plaza, as a central feature of its design.
• ☑ The station area offers a hierarchy of parks and civic spaces from small informal squares to larger multi-use parks. Smaller plazas and squares are typically concentrated in the more urban or dense portions closer to the station. Larger parks and recreational amenities are used to help transition to lower intensity use areas at the periphery of the station influence area.
• ☑ Parks are connected with a comprehensive and well marked system of greenways and trail or sidewalk connections.

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A public square can serve as a focal point for surrounding development.

Principle 3: The Station Area Development Plan Focuses The Most Dense, Compact Development Closest to the Station

HOW IS THIS PRINCIPLE ACCOMPLISHED?

• ☑ The development within a designated station area is compactly designed with higher densities closer to the station area. Typically, the most intense activity is focused within ¼ mile of a station.

Principle 4: The Station Area Should Have a Distinctive and Attractive Identity

HOW IS THIS PRINCIPLE ACCOMPLISHED?

• ☑ The station area creates a distinctive identity that draws upon and complements the predominant character of existing or planned adjacent development.
• ☑ The station area uses common architectural elements, art, banners, awnings, landscaping, etc. to help define a unified sense of place.

See Figure 5-4: Designing Gateways and Districts.

North Las Vegas

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A thorough system of signage helps people navigate to locations within the development.

Principle 5: The Station Area Should be Designed to Support and Facilitate Pedestrian Activity

How is this principle accomplished?

• ☑ The station area is designed for pedestrian activity including connected sidewalks and pathways, shorter blocks and setbacks, parking on the street or behind buildings, and other amenities such as lighting, parks, and benches.
• ☑ The station area has a clear, thorough, and well-coordinated system of signs to assist with way finding.
• ☑ The station area has a parking strategy in place well in advance of station area development. This may include a multi-phased strategy that accounts for and adjusts to the changing parking needs of the station area as uses develop or

densities increase. Other considerations may include opportunities for shared parking, such as the use of commercial, church, or multi-family parking areas during weekdays for park and ride areas.

See Figure 5-3: Designing Pedestrian-Friendly Places.

Residential Density Evaluation Criteria

OVERVIEW AND INTENT

Three residential categories designated on the Land Use Plan map are subject to a density bonus system:

• Single-Family Low
• Single-Family Medium
• Mixed-Use Neighborhood

This system is intended to provide an opportunity for a greater degree of flexibility in allowable densities to promote infill and redevelopment that places a strong emphasis on high-quality site design, variety of housing types, and amenities.

The density bonuses create an incentive for developments to achieve the city goals relating to increasing amenities in neighborhoods, improving pedestrian mobility and neighborhood connectivity, open space and trail connections, neighborhood services and amenities, and fostering a greater sense of community cohesion.

ACHIEVING MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE DENSITIES

In order to achieve the maximum allowable densities within any of these three residential categories, developments would need to incorporate certain features and amenities. This density bonus award system would be proportional; for example projects that provide a minimal level of amenities would be eligible for a lower density than those that provide a broader range of amenities. The features and amenities that would be required to achieve a desired density would be based on a "menu" approach, whereby the developer can mix and match from the list of options to increase the allowable density of the development.

Criteria for determining allowable density in mixed-use districts would consist of three categories:

• Building and site design,
• Site amenities, and
• Mix of housing types.

Figure 5-5: Residential Density Bonus System Density Increase Diagram

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PROCEDURAL NOTE

A site design must be submitted for review and consideration by the Planning Commission to achieve higher densities within any one category. To shift into a higher density land use category, a site design must be submitted with the Amended Master Plan (AMP) request.

HOW WILL THIS BE IMPLEMENTED?

The City will implement this Residential Density Evaluation Criteria system through adoption of provisions within its Municipal Code. It is anticipated that the Municipal Code revisions, to directly follow adoption of this Comprehensive Plan, will take several months to draft and adopt. In the interim, these criteria will be used by City planning staff,

Planning Commission, and City Council to determine the appropriate density for development projects.

This description is intended to provide guidance to the revisions regarding the desired general structure for the density bonus system. The criteria required for each residential category, the specific standards and percentage requirements needed to achieve each item, and how achievement of various criteria relate to increases in the allowable densities using a menu approach will be specifically defined within the Municipal Code.

Single-Family Low

Base density: 4.5 du/ac. Maximum allowable density pending inclusion of site plan review recommendations: 6.0 du/ac.

Single-Family Medium

Base density: 6.01 du/ac. Maximum allowable density pending inclusion of site plan review recommendations: 13.0 du/ac.

Mixed-Use Neighborhood

Base density: 6.01 du/ac. Maximum allowable density pending inclusion of site plan review recommendations: 18 du/ac or 25 du/ac within 1/4 mile of a designated future transit station.

The 18 du/ac maximum density level applies in any area planned as a Mixed-Use Neighborhood on the land use plan map. Allowable densities would vary, based on the mix of housing types and level of amenities provided as part of the development plan (see "Building and Site Design" discussion below). The second density level is intended to apply only within one-quarter mile of a designated future transit station. Future transit stations include stations designated by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) that support Bus Rapid Transit, Light Rail Transit, and other modes of public transit. The additional densities within these station areas are intended to support increased use of transit infrastructure and should be developed according to the principles of transit-oriented design (see earlier discussion in this chapter). These standards shall be used as guidelines to determine appropriate densities until such time that they are incorporated into Title 17 of the Municipal Code.

1. Building and Site Design

☑ Quality of building materials. Building exteriors are constructed of materials with product warranties or an industry expected life of a 25-year minimum.

☑ Architectural Variety. Housing incorporates architectural details and variations in the structure of the façade to offer visual interest and appeal. Architectural variety should be applied at a block level for maximum effect and is achieved through inclusion of at least two (2) of the following within the development:

• Front Porches or arcades (minimum of 8’ x 10’);
• Façade articulation (e.g., through the incorporation of recesses, projections, windows, architectural detailing, etc.);
• Distinct variations in primary façade materials and accent materials and/or color;
• Distinct variation in the location and proportion of windows and doors;
• Distinct difference in architectural styles (e.g., Mediterranean, Santa Barbara, Tucson, Spanish);
• Garages that are recessed a minimum of 12 inches behind the front façade of the home (applies only to front-loaded).

☑ Variety of housing models. The development contains a minimum number

of distinct home models on each block of the development. This number is scaled in proportion to the number of units contained within the development (e.g., developments containing fewer than 100 units must use at least three (3) distinct model types. Developments that contain 101-200 units must use at least four (4) distinct model types. In either case, no single model type can exceed 30% of the total homes on any one block. Mirror images of the same home model do not count as two (2) distinctly different home models. Individual housing models must have distinctly different floor plans and can be further distinguished by variation in:

• Garage placement and design (front loaded, side loaded, or alley-accessed);
• Mix of 1- and 2-story homes;
• Width and proportion of the front facade; and
• Substantial variation in roof lines and/or pitch.

☑ Compatibility and Transitions. The height and massing of structures with frontage on residential streets bordering adjacent developments, or homes adjoining adjacent existing neighborhoods, should provide transitions. These transitions may be accomplished by:

• A step down in building height to adjacent development to the approximate height of structures on the fronting block face, and
• Locating lower intensity residential uses along the periphery of the site where it adjoins an existing residential neighborhood to provide a transition from higher intensity residential or non-residential uses.

2. Site Amenities

☑ Landscaped Perimeter Streets. All exterior walls and/or streets include a landscaped buffer area with separated sidewalks, regularly spaced street trees, and vegetative coverage as described in Title 17 of the Municipal Code.

☑ Landscaped Interior Streets. All streets within the development provide separated sidewalks with shade trees in a planted area that is a minimum of five (5) feet in width.

☑ Neighborhood Centers/Access to Commercial Areas. The development contains a neighborhood center consisting of two or more neighborhood-serving, non-residential uses that is accessible through a well-connected trails system and compatible in use and design with the adjacent neighborhood(s).

☑ Parkland. The development meets Title 17 minimum parkland requirements for pocket and community/neighborhood parks(public or private).

☑ Park Amenities. Each pocket park provides at least four (4) of Group 1 amenities. Each private neighborhood/community park provides at least four (4) of Group 1 and two (2) of Group 2 amenities.

Group 1 Amenities

• Shade structure or awning
• Park benches (regularly spaced)
• Downward-facing lighting
• Picnic area
• Trash receptacles
• Landscaping with shade trees

Group 2 Amenities

• Playground equipment

• Playing fields
• Covered pavilion

☑ Connected Trails/Pathways. The development is linked together by a system of connected off-street trails other than required sidewalks that accommodate both bicycle and pedestrian traffic. These trails provide access to schools, parks, adjacent neighborhoods and commercial activity, and the neighborhood center (if applicable).

☑ Trail Amenities. The connected system of trails provide at least three (3) of the following regularly-spaced amenities:

• Lighting
• Benches
• Shade structures
• Landscaping with shade trees

☑ Connected Open Space., accomplished through the following:

• A. The site plan utilizes undevelopable areas including utility and drainage easements as the basis of a connected system of open space. Swale and drainage areas are constructed of natural materials not concrete, as described in Title 17.
• B. In addition to A, the on-site open space connects into a larger city or regional open space network via a trail connection.

3. Mix of Housing Types

☑ Mix of Housing Types - Accomplished through achieving one of the two following options:

• Project includes two (2) or more distinct housing types (each housing type should comprise no less than 30% of the total units). Distinct housing types shall mean a combination of attached or detached single-family, townhomes, and multifamily units.
• Project includes three (3) or more distinct housing types (e.g., each housing type should comprise no less than 20% of the total units).

☑ Mixed-Income Development. The development incorporates a range of home pricing in a well-integrated neighborhood that intermixes homes at different price-points throughout the development, not segregated by area or block. Criteria for establishing the pricing range (i.e., price differential and minimum % of each type) will be established in the Municipal Code.

Chapter 6: Specific Planning Areas

Introduction

This Comprehensive Plan establishes the policy agenda for the city for the next 20 years. Chapter 3 contains the city-wide Guiding Principles, Goals, and Policies that the city will pursue in order to implement the plan and achieve its vision. Given the size of North Las Vegas, it is recognized that there will be geographic differences in both use and conditions. Some of these differences, and the appropriate policies to address varying needs, are best addressed at the sub-area level. It is for this reason that the entire city has been divided into Specific Planning Areas (SPAs). Four types of SPAs have been designated as illustrated on Figure 6-1: Planning Framework:

• Residential Neighborhoods include older neighborhoods, areas still under construction, and areas yet to be developed.
• Activity Centers include the areas planned for mixed-use development. These will serve as key areas of social, commercial and employment activity for the community.
• Employment Districts include the industrial and primary employment corridors within the city and the lands that are planned for these uses in the future.
• Specialized Area Plans are designated areas of the city with a long-term vision defining how the area should grow and change.

This chapter provides detailed descriptions and policies for each Specific Planning Area.

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Residential Neighborhoods

Existing Neighborhoods: The residential areas in the city that are already largely developed. Six broad neighborhood districts are defined to help capture the differences in geography, age, and character of development in various areas of the city.

Existing Neighborhoods

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There are six distinct existing neighborhood districts within the city. These areas are delineated to reflect a common age and character of the residences as well as shared geographic location. These districts, as illustrated in the map below, include:

1. Existing Master Planned Communities
2. Sandstone District
3. Ranch Estates District
4. Cheyenne North District
5. South District
6. Central District

INTENT

The intent for the Existing Neighborhoods is to promote and retain community cohesion and distinct neighborhood identity through quality site and project design of new infill or redevelopment activities including residences, commercial centers, infrastructure, services, and parks and open space components of the community. The delineation of areas on the map is a management tool to assist the city and residents in organizing and prioritizing needed or desired improvements. In the future, these areas will provide the basis for detailed neighborhood-level planning and will assist the city to prioritize implementation actions specified in the Comprehensive Plan.

1. Existing Master Planned Communities

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Aliante, together with Eldorado and Olympia, make up the Existing Master Planned Communities area.

LOCATION / CONTEXT

This area includes the Existing Master Planned Communities of Eldorado, Aliante, and the newly approved Olympia development. Given that the majority of development in this area is less than 10 years old, and much of the land is still under development, this area does not have to contend with issues of blight or disrepair that may face older neighborhoods. Rather,

policies and concerns for these neighborhoods focus on slight improvements that could be made to ensure that different neighborhoods better relate and connect to each other, residents have convenient access to goods and services, and the transportation system is safe and supports a variety of modes.

Area-Specific Policies

Policy RN1.1: Regional and Citywide Trail and Open Space Connections

The Southern Nevada Regional Policy Plan stresses the importance of retaining access to open space areas as neighborhoods develop and the priority of building a connected system of regional trails. As the development of Olympia moves forward, trail and open space connections to the Conservation Area, the Wash Trail, and connected trails and open space corridors within neighborhoods that improve access to these two features, will be planned and implemented. In Aliante and Eldorado, the city will work with Homeowners Associations and developers to increase trail and open space connections within and between developments to access these natural and recreation features as well as commercial areas.

Policy RN1.2: Neighborhood Centers

Mixed-use neighborhood centers should be strategically located where convenient access to goods and services may be lacking, and ensure that these are developed in accordance with the standards and recommendations for mixed use centers as described in Chapter 5. (See Figure 5-2: Designing Neighborhood Centers.)

Policy RN1.3: Improved Pedestrian Mobility

A well-developed system of pedestrian sidewalks and trails reduces auto- dependency by making walking a safe and convenient means of travel. This can benefit the community in several ways, including reduced traffic congestion, increased public transit ridership, and additional opportunities for recreation and exercise. The city will work with developers and Homeowners Associations to plan for formal and informal street and trail improvements to help make safe pedestrian connections within neighborhoods and between neighborhoods and other destinations, including neighborhood centers, transit stops, schools, parks and recreation options, and other goods and services.

2. Sandstone District

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A neighborhood within the Sandstone District.

Location /Context

The Sandstone District includes the neighborhoods south of the Existing Master Planned Communities and north of the Ranch Estates development and Craig Road. This district includes numerous subdivisions of predominantly single-family developments. These neighborhoods are served by the

commercial activity along the Craig and Ann Road corridors. While largely developed, there are vacant lots interspersed throughout the area, allowing considerable opportunity for infill development. Policies for this area focus on improvements that can help increase the sense of place and community in order to achieve more cohesive and interconnected neighborhoods.

AREA-SPECIFIC POLICIES

Policy RN2.1: Wash Trail

The Wash Trail is a planned regional trail that would connect the northwestern neighborhoods with the Conservation Area to the north and Craig Ranch and the Downtown to the south. The city will actively pursue implementation of the planned Wash Trail.

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A regional trail is planned along the Las Vegas Wash.

3. Ranch Estates District

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The mature landscaping of this quiet street is typical of neighborhoods within the Ranch Estates District.

LOCATION AND CONTEXT

The Ranch Estates District correlates to the properties zoned as Ranch Estates. This special district, created and supported by the Nevada State Legislature, is intended to retain traditional estate-style development within this region of the state. This area is characterized by older single-family homes with mature landscaping and no walls within an individual development. This district allows residents to keep horses. Commercial activity is limited to the Craig Road corridor between the two Ranch Estates areas.

AREA-SPECIFIC POLICIES

Policy RN3.1: Retain Ranch

Estates Land The city will retain lands currently zoned as Ranch Estates in order to maintain the established character of the area, preserve the rural lifestyle of its residents, and retain large-lot, rural homes as a housing option.

Policy RN3.2: Safeguard

Character The city will develop Character Guidelines for the Ranch Estates District, to ensure that new

commercial and residential development or redevelopment is compatible with the intended rural character of this area of the city.

4. Cheyenne North District

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The Cheyenne North District is home to a variety of neighborhoods, from more modest to larger two story single-family homes.

LOCATION AND CONTEXT

The Cheyenne North District is named for its proximity to the Cheyenne Technology Corridor. These neighborhoods are typically older subdivisions of single and multi-family developments that enjoy close proximity to the Cheyenne employment hub, Craig Ranch Regional Park, and the North Las Vegas Air Terminal. Like many neighborhoods within the city, individual developments are surrounded by walls that separate and impede movement and interaction within and between neighborhoods. Policies for this area focus on improving overall connectivity and circulation, improving or creating neighborhood centers, and strengthening the relationship of this district to the mixed-use areas of the Cheyenne Technology Corridor and Craig Ranch – areas that provide recreation, jobs, goods, and services.

AREA-SPECIFIC POLICIES

Policy RN4.1: Increased Community Amenities

The number of community amenities and services located in this portion of the city should be increased by actively working to locate one or more neighborhood centers where there is infill opportunity, and improving street and pedestrian connections to the Craig Ranch area.

Policy RN4.2: Orient to Cheyenne Technology Corridor

New infill and redevelopment activity should work to create better points of access and interface between existing neighborhoods and the mixed use employment area of the Cheyenne Technology Corridor.

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The walls of this development not only isolate the neighborhood from surrounding development, but make a barren pedestrian environment along the street.

Policy RN4.3: Improve Streetscape

Work with Homeowners' Associations to improve the streetscape in this area through modifications and improvements to subdivision wall faces, sidewalks, and plantings.

5. South District

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The wall around the South District subdivision on the left separates it from the neighborhood across the street to the right.

LOCATION AND CONTEXT

The South District, located just north of the City of Las Vegas, is one of the most mature portions of the city. The relatively affordable neighborhoods in this area include small single-family residences, trailer homes, and multi-family developments. There is some evidence of blight within this district including homes in disrepair and vacant lots. One challenge facing residents of this area is simply the location of this area within the city. The presence of the major corridors of Cheyenne and I-15 to the north and east, and the NLV Air Terminal to the west effectively serve to separate this area from the other residential areas of the city. Future policies and actions in this area will focus on addressing issues of community stability, revitalization, and connectivity.

AREA-SPECIFIC POLICIES

Policy RN5.1: Improved Access

Access and circulation between this area, surrounding neighborhoods, and activity centers in the Downtown and along Cheyenne Avenue should be improved through connective pedestrian sidewalks, trails, and open space connections.

Policy RN5.2: Infill and Redevelopment

The presence of blighted conditions and vacant properties within a neighborhood can negatively impact that neighborhood in a number of ways. Blighted conditions have been tied to lower levels of investment by residents in their properties and declining property values. Vacant properties have been linked with increased rates of crime. In some cases garbage can gather or be dumped on vacant parcels, creating a negative visual element. It is important that the city actively pursue infill and redevelopment of vacant or blighted properties to help stabilize existing neighborhoods.

Policy RN5.3: Attainable Neighborhoods

Attainable housing refers to housing for workers/individuals or families starting out and the elderly or those on fixed or limited incomes. The goal is to provide a range of housing choices so that key segments of the population and workforce are not priced out of homeownership within the city. Retain and safeguard quality, affordably priced neighborhoods, and work to integrate parks and services within and around these neighborhoods.

Chapter 6: Specific

6. Central District

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Newer development within the Central District illustrates the stucco and tile residential design typical of in the Valley.

LOCATION AND CONTEXT

The Central District includes recent residential developments, especially in the Ann and Losee area. Shadow Creek Golf Course is located within this district. These neighborhoods will be served by emerging commercial activity along Losee Road and the new Meadows Hospital proposed to be located at Tropical Road and Losee Road. Policies for this newly developing area focus on ensuring that infrastructure and services are paced with development to provide a high level of service to the residents. This includes a focus on park and trail connections including the regional Wash Trail, and other pedestrian improvements to allow for non-auto travel.

AREA-SPECIFIC POLICIES

Policy RN6.1: Services and Infrastructure

The city should coordinate with developers to pace development with their service providers' ability to provide safe, complete, and high level of services and infrastructure. At or within a reasonable time of development, services such as fire and safety and the street and water infrastructure to safely serve residents and emergency services should be complete. Sawtooth roads do not constitute a completed roadway.

Policy RN6.2: Transition Densities Gradually Toward the Northern Development Area

The Comprehensive Plan's Future Land Use Plan and policies should be implemented and zoning designations updated to ensure that new development adjacent to the Northern Development Area and North 5th Transit Corridor provide gradual transitions to higher densities.

Activity Centers

Two Activity Centers are designated within the city. These centers, which emphasize pedestrian-friendly mixed-use development and serve different functions within the city, include:

• Downtown
• North 5th Transit Corridor and Craig Ranch

The following section highlights each of these three Activity Centers as areas of focused social and economic activity within the city.

Downtown

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Intent

The intent for the Downtown is that it serve as a high-quality defining center of the city with a strong sense of place. Downtown should offer residents and visitors a variety of shopping, dining, entertainment, employment, and civic activity in a vibrant day-night setting. Neighborhoods in and around the Downtown should be diverse and include higher-density mixed-use development to increase the supply and range of options for housing in the area.

Location and Context

This area includes the portions of the city south of Gowan Road and east of I-15. The I-15 interchange at Lake Mead Boulevard serves as a major gateway into the community as both an entrance into the incorporated area of the city from the south and to the Downtown. Small local businesses and mature shopping areas currently dominate the frontage of the major thoroughfares of Lake Mead and North Las Vegas Boulevards. This area exhibits a strong Latin American or Hispanic influence.

Area-Specific Policies

Policy AC-DT-1: Downtown Master Plan

Prepare a Downtown Master Plan to provide and inspire a coordinated vision and strategy for this area.

Policy AC-DT-2: Downtown Gateway

Plan and fund Downtown Gateway improvements to establish a distinct, attractive, and well-coordinated point of entry into the city.

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This pedestrian bridge provides pedestrians a safe and convenient way to cross larger roads that may otherwise pose a safety risk.

Policy AC-DT-3: Safe Pedestrian Connections Complete targeted improvements to pedestrian connections within the Downtown including the possible addition of clearly marked pedestrian crossings or pedestrian footbridges over major thoroughfares, the width of which can serve to impede safe and easy movement of pedestrians between businesses.

Policy AC-DT-4: Downtown Redevelopment Plan for and support redevelopment activities within the Downtown, with particular focus given initially to the I-15 "gateway" area and along North Las Vegas Boulevard and the North 5th Transit Corridor.

Policy AC-DT-5: Coordinated Transit Options Development and redevelopment activity should be planned around the accommodation of transit options and facilitation of their use. As development occurs, transit routes should be coordinated and expanded to improve mobility within the Downtown and connectivity to other outlying areas.

Policy AC-DT-6: Downtown Business Association Work with the Downtown Business Association to offer information, networking, and support to existing and new small businesses within the Downtown.

Policy AC-DT-7: Focus on Social Equity As development progresses, work with developers to ensure that a range of housing prices are provided within new developments to allow current residents to remain in the Downtown community near their businesses and within close proximity of goods and services.

Policy AC-DT-8: Strategic Partnerships Work with the Community College of Southern Nevada, community churches, and other community-based organizations to foster additional investment and activity within the Downtown.

North 5th Transit Corridor and Craig Ranch

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INTENT

This corridor is intended to offer high-speed transit through the city, particularly to facilitate north-south movement. Station locations within this corridor should be developed in accordance with the Transit-Oriented Design recommendations put forth in the North Fifth Street Transit Supportive Concept Plan and this Comprehensive Plan. Mixed-use development is encouraged along the corridor within designated station areas. Each station area should be developed to relate to the adjacent uses and activities such as Craig Ranch, the Downtown, the VA hospital, and the proposed UNLV campus through coordinated planning. East-west feeder connections to transit stations along

this corridor will also be identified to increase access to this transit corridor from other areas of the city. While transit service may not occur along this corridor for a period of years, it is important that emerging development patterns be supportive of future transit service.

LOCATION AND CONTEXT

The North 5th Transit Corridor is planned to run north from the Downtown along North 5th Street, east along Deer Springs Way, and then north again along Pecos Road, terminating at the future University of Nevada campus. Five station areas have been designated within the plan for this corridor (from north to south):

• University District
• Deer Springs District
• North 5th Street District
• Industrial District
• Gateway Redevelopment District

These districts not only represent the proposed geography of the station areas, but also convey the fact that each area is distinctly different in its land use mix and function. In the future, these areas will be planned and designed in detail according to their respective contexts through a series of station area master plans.

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Craig Ranch Regional Park will serve as a central feature to surrounding mixed-use development.

Within this Plan, Craig Ranch is viewed in combination with the North 5th Transit Corridor to illustrate the intended relationship between the two. As adjacent mixed-use areas, the station area and park-oriented development around Craig Ranch should strongly relate to each other.

AREA-SPECIFIC POLICIES

Policy AC-5CR-1: TOD Design Standards

Develop and implement Transit-Oriented Design standards for station areas.

Policy AC-5CR-2: Park Design

Implement the planned park design for the Craig Ranch regional park.

Policy AC-5CR-3: Park-Oriented Development

Work with developers in the design and review of mixed-use developments around Craig Ranch to ensure that development adjacent to the park enhances park accessibility and maximizes the benefit of this major amenity for the community.

Employment Districts

This plan identifies three key employment districts for the city. These represent areas where employment is and will remain the primary activity. In addition, the federal government owns and uses a large segment of land in the north of the city. Together, these three Specific Planning Area Employment Districts are:

• Cheyenne Technology Corridor
• Industrial Lands
• Military

The following section highlights each area and identifies specific policies for the city to pursue to strengthen these centers of employment activity.

Cheyenne Technology Corridor

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INTENT

The Cheyenne Technology Corridor is the result of a targeted strategy for economic development, one that has been successful and should continue into the future. The designation of this area reflects the city's commitment to continuing to encourage and support primary employment activity along this corridor. The vision for the future of the corridor as it develops is to incorporate a greater mix of uses including office, retail, services, and housing to support the businesses along this corridor. As a mixed use area, pedestrian amenities and connections will be emphasized.

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The Cheyenne Technology Corridor is planned to develop as a major mixed-use employment corridor in the future.

LOCATION AND CONTEXT

This Employment District is located within the city limits along Cheyenne Road west of I-15. This corridor includes two major transportation features at either end: the planned Industrial District station area along the North 5th Corridor at its east end and the North Las Vegas Air Terminal at its west end.

AREA-SPECIFIC POLICIES

Policy ED-CTC-1: Cheyenne Technology Corridor Continue to support the business development plan for the Cheyenne Technology Corridor.

Policy ED-CTC-2: Supportive Mixed-Use Infill

Work to incorporate areas of mixed-use development within the corridor to provide supportive housing, goods, and services to the businesses and employers.

Policy ED-CTC-2: Corridor Design

Develop a unified corridor design to strengthen a shared sense of place and connection between different employers and the airport.

Policy ED-CTC-3: Industrial Transit District

Support the Industrial District station area of the North 5th Corridor through mixed-use developments along the eastern portion of Cheyenne Boulevard and near Craig Ranch that relate and are well connected to the station area and its surrounding development.

Industrial Lands

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INTENT

The I-15 and railway corridor has supported industrial development and served to diversify the economy of the city. Market demand for residential development is placing pressure on transitioning land from industrial to residential uses. It is the intent of the city to retain this industrial land supply for future economic activity.

Location and Context

The Industrial Lands corridor traverses the city at a diagonal through the southern portion, from just north of the downtown area to the easternmost edge. This land is generally adjacent to the I-15 and Union Pacific rail corridor.

Area-Specific Policies

Policy ED-IL-1: Industrial Land Supply

The city will retain the existing industrial land supply within the I-15 corridor through zoning and land use decisions that promote employment opportunities, resident safety, and neighborhood viability.

Policy ED-IL-2: Corridors and Buffers

Work with businesses to design landscaped buffers and streetscape treatments along major arterials, or where industrial areas are adjacent to residential developments.

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New industrial development is encouraged along the I-15 industrial corridor.

Policy ED-IL-3: Industrial Infill

Create incentives and develop a strategy to encourage new industrial development on industrial lands.

Military

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INTENT

The Military lands are current and historic training grounds used by the National Guard and Nellis Air Force Base. A long history of use has resulted in some contamination of this land, which will remain under the ownership and use of the Federal Government.

LOCATION AND CONTEXT

This land is located in the eastern portion of the city, north of the I-15 industrial corridor and south of BLM lands.

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The military lands, though seemingly vacant, have long been used for training purposes.

AREA-SPECIFIC POLICIES

Policy ED-M-1: Transitions and Buffers

Locate only non-residential land uses adjacent to the military land.

Specialized Area Plans

A Specialized Area Plan focuses on a specific geography within the City. This type of plan includes specific, actionable recommendations to help guide growth and development within the geographic area.

The Specific Planning Area: Specialized Area Plans include:

• Tule Springs East

Tule Springs East

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INTENT

Tule Springs East is a unique area that includes the northern and southern Job Creation Zones, the future UNLV North Campus and BLM land intended for disposal. It is the intent of the City to create a vibrant complete community that includes healthy lifestyles, a mix of housing options, employment opportunities and supportive commercial services.

LOCATION AND CONTEXT

The Tule Springs East Area is generally located north of the Clark County 215 Beltway, east of the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, west of the Nellis Air Force Base Small Arms Range and south of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge.

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Comprehensive Plan Figure 6-1: Planning Framework

October 21, 2025 This information is for display purposes only. No liability is assumed as to the accuracy of the data delineated hereon.

CHAPTER 7: ACTION PLAN

This Comprehensive Plan establishes a number of policies for the city to implement. Some of these policies involve longer-term or ongoing actions that the city will need to take; others are of more immediate concern or involve projects currently in their planning stages. The following action plan prioritizes actions for the city to take to implement this Plan.

Summary of Priority Actions

Land Use

This Plan shifts the land use planning and development focus from type and density to form and function. This shift recognizes that quality and character are the most important attributes of development. The development and incorporation of various mixed-use activity centers in residential and non-residential areas throughout the city is highlighted as a key development strategy. The overarching theme is that all new development, infill, and redevelopment activity should strengthen and enhance the quality of life and sense of community within the city. This will be achieved by working to define, enhance, and connect various areas in the city.

Priority actions to be taken by the city to achieve its short- and long-term policies are:

1. Revise the Municipal Code The city will revise its Municipal Code to be in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan. Revisions will include the addition of new standards to guide infill development that link achievable densities to development quality and a new mixed-use ordinance to accommodate the three mixed-use

categories designated in the Activity Centers and the Cheyenne Technology Corridor on Figure 4-1: Land Use Plan.

2. Create and Adopt Design Criteria for New Master Planned Communities The ability of the city to negotiate and encourage high quality master planned community development in the northern portions of the city is important to the future quality of life in the city and its neighborhoods. The city will create and adopt a set of design criteria based in the Principles of Design for new MPCs detailed in Chapter 5. This might be accomplished in several ways including revisions to the MPC District in the MPC Municipal Code, or preparation of a set of guidelines. These design criteria will provide clear guidance on site design, housing mix, pedestrian connections, parks and open space, neighborhood centers, and other desired features for neighborhood communities.

3. Prepare and Adopt a Downtown Master Plan The Downtown is an important area that helps establish the identity of the city. The city will capitalize on this opportunity area, creating an active environment for living, working, dining, entertainment, and civic involvement for its residents. A Downtown Master Plan should be prepared to create a detailed land use plan and set of strategies, including phasing of larger projects, for the Downtown. The planning process should place a strong emphasis on public involvement of current Downtown residents and business owners.

4. Implement the North 5th Street Transit Supportive Concept Plan The future North 5th Street Transit Corridor connects several areas of city including the Northern Development Area, the Cheyenne

Chapter 7: Action Plan

Technology Corridor and Craig Ranch, and the Downtown. Transit is critical to the overall quality and function of the city's future transportation system. Planning for transit along this corridor must be implemented and consistently supported through land use, transportation, and fiscal decisions on the part of the city.

Housing and Neighborhoods

This Plan emphasizes the city's achievement of a balanced land use mix so that residents can both live and work in the city. In addition, the Plan emphasizes residential neighborhood diversity, both in the mix of housing types and through the presence of active mixed-use neighborhood centers. These centers supply needed goods, services, jobs, and opportunities for a diverse range of households.

1. Consider All Types of Strategies to Increase the Balance of Housing

The city recognizes the importance of establishing a mix of housing types and prices throughout the city to ensure that housing is available and attainable by individuals and families with a full range of income levels. It is desired that a variety of housing choices be incorporated within individual neighborhoods rather than segregated into separate subdivisions by type and/or density. The city will encourage developers and other private and non-profit entities to create a program of incentives to encourage a mix of attainable housing within its neighborhoods.

2. Implement a System of Residential Density Evaluation Criteria

The city will create and implement, through revisions to the Municipal Code, a set of design criteria to evaluate residential density in Single-Family Low and Medium Residential and Mixed-Use Neighborhood areas. This system will award density bonuses in direct proportion to the development's achievement of various characteristics including mix of housing types, building and site design, and site amenities as described in Chapter 5.

3. Develop a Neighborhood Planning Strategy

Through this Comprehensive Plan, the city has identified a number of goals and policies to be accomplished in new and existing neighborhoods. It is understood that neighborhoods vary in their age, development patterns, and proximity to various transportation, parks and recreation, and other civic amenities within the city. The priorities for neighborhood-level planning activities including a timeline, procedures, and parties to be involved should be clearly determined in advance. The city will establish a Neighborhood Planning Strategy that prioritizes areas within the city for additional neighborhood-level planning. This strategy should be reviewed annually to secure funding, as necessary, to support neighborhood planning activities and improvement programs.

Parks, Trails, and Open Space

This Plan places a strong emphasis on the city achieving a connected system of trails and open space that links neighborhoods to jobs, goods, services, and recreation destinations throughout the city.

1. Update the Parks and Recreational Facilities Master Plan

The city will update its Parks and Recreational Facilities Master Plan to identify additional parkland and recreation amenities to meet the needs of residents and achieve a level of service for parks that meets or exceeds national standards.

2. Coordinate Regional Parks and Open Space

The city will work with other jurisdictions in the Valley to develop regional standards and plans for regional parks, trails, and open space.

This effort will be coordinated with the update of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

3. Implement the Wash Trail The city will actively pursue land acquisition and dedication and funding sources to construct and maintain this planned regional trail.

Transportation and Mobility

This Plan stresses the importance of a multi-modal transportation system throughout the city. The transportation system provided by the city directly impacts its residents' quality of life through mobility, air quality, opportunities for exercise, safety, and transportation choice.

1. Prepare a Transportation Master Plan The city will prepare a Transportation Master Plan that will provide a comprehensive approach for achieving a multi-modal transportation system serving all parts of the city and regional connections. As part of this effort, the city will acquire traffic modeling capability to inform city planning and to allow the city to conduct ongoing monitoring and assessment of street and intersection performance.

2. Improve Pedestrian Connections Citywide The city will work actively with developers and Homeowners' Associations to improve the level and quality of pedestrian connections throughout the city in both existing and new developments.

3. Establish Transportation Improvement Priorities The city will identify a list of priority, short-term transportation improvements. Such improvements could focus on additional or improved pedestrian crossings and eliminating "sawtooth" roads. These priorities should be addressed on an ongoing basis each year through the city's Capital Improvements Plan to ensure consistent and strategic transportation improvements.

Public Facilities and Services

As the city grows, it will consistently plan for and achieve a high level of public facilities and services including transportation, utilities, and emergency and safety services.

1. Adequate Public Facilities Requirement Establish a system to ensure that the public facilities and services needed to support development are available when the service demands of the development occur. This system should include an annual monitoring process to assess service capacity levels and identify needed improvements to be incorporated within the annual Capital Improvement Plan and Budget.

Community Character and Design

Through this Comprehensive Master Plan, the city strongly encourages high-quality design for all new development within the city. In addition, the city aims to strengthen the visual appeal and sense of place within the city through streetscape and gateway treatments.

1. Create Design Standards for Infill Development The city will revise the Municipal Code to incorporate infill policies including general design guidelines for infill developments to ensure that new development or redevelopment within predominantly developed areas is consistent in scale, style, and character with existing development.

2. Community Gateway Corridors The city will identify priority Community Gateways and develop and fund a Gateway Program that will plan for, design, and

Chapter 7: Action Plan

implement gateway corridor improvements. These improvements may include, but are not limited to, coordinated landscape design, signs and banners, and public art. All gateway corridor improvements should also incorporate improvements to the pedestrian environment including pedestrian crossings, benches, wayfinding, shade features, desert gardens or parks, lighting, and other amenities as appropriate. First priority will be given to conducting gateway corridor improvements within the Downtown.

Economic Development

The city will retain and improve a healthy jobs-housing balance by actively building upon and diversifying its economy so that residents have quality primary employment opportunities without commuting to other jurisdictions.

1. Economic Development Balance

The city will monitor the ratio of residential to industrial/commercial acreage to ensure that an appropriate balance exists between residential and employment supporting land uses.

2. Infill Land Supply Inventory

The city will create an inventory of available parcels suitable for infill and/or mixed use development and work with the private sector to market these properties to reputable developers. The city will adopt aggressive economic incentives to encourage development and redevelopment in designated areas, particularly in the Downtown.

Chapter 8: Annual Plan Review

Purpose

As the city implements this Comprehensive Plan, it will assess its progress in achieving its goals and policies by engaging in an annual review process. The review process will especially focus on the number of goals achieved through development decisions. This assessment consists of two distinct types of measures:

• <u>Quantitative Measures:</u> Key goals such as achieving a better jobs/housing balance; increasing the amount of parkland; and increasing the amount of retail space to serve the needs of residents.
• <u>Qualitative Measures:</u> Goals and policy objectives not calculable in quantifiable measures. Qualitative review will focus on whether the policy action has been completed (e.g., design guidelines created, plans adopted) and whether or not these policy tools have then been adhered to or used successfully to bring about the desired built environments or conditions within the city.

The assessment will enable city officials to clearly see the cumulative impact of separate development decisions. The primary objective of this assessment will be to determine, on a periodic basis, if the City is making progress towards its target goals. The results will either serve as an affirmation of success or illustrate the need for changes or additional policies to help shift development in the direction of the Plan.

Quantitative Measures

Several goals established by the city have measurable outcomes that can help the city track changes and assess its implementation performance in a quantitative way. The table below provides target values for various indicators, the ongoing monitoring of which will illustrate the city's performance in moving toward the target value. The three values that will be tracked and reported on an ongoing basis are:

Jobs/Housing Balance

This indicator expresses the ratio of jobs to households within the city and illustrates, in part, the city's performance in achieving its goal of a balanced land use mix. The base year level was derived from 2002 U.S. Census Bureau Economic Census data. The target value is based on the values found in comparable cities in the southwest, and represents the City's desired balance at buildout (year 2025). Since Economic Census data is compiled every five years, this ratio will only be evaluated on a five-year basis.

Parkland Acres/1,000 People

This indicator is a measure of the amount of parkland within the city and helps to illustrate the city's progress on building its parkland system that helps contribute to the quality-of-life of residents. The base year level was calculated and reported in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update (2004) as was the locally adjusted national average that serves as the target value. The Parks and Recreation Department expects to update its Master Plan in 2007. As part of that process, this ratio will be reevaluated and will likely change. It is also possible that the target will change from a per capita-based ratio to a

service area basis (i.e., average distance from a residence to a neighborhood or community park). For this reason, the target value for parkland acres should be considered to be a "placeholder" value.

SQ.FT. RENTABLE RETAIL SPACE PER CAPITA

This indicator expresses the amount of rentable retail space per capita and is a measure of how well the city is achieving its goals related to residents' convenient access to needed goods and services. The base year value was calculated using data for the city; the target value is based on the values found in comparable cities in the southwest and the Las

Vegas valley, and represents a target value for the City's buildout (year 2025). This data will be tracked using building permit data for new commercial construction. Due to the lag time between the construction of residential development and the commercial development that will follow to serve it, this data will be reported every two years.

Target levels may need to be adjusted as conditions shift over time and should be evaluated periodically to assess the relevance or desirability of the target value. Planning, Economic Development, and Parks and Recreation Departments will track the performance values.

• Target levels for Jobs/Housing Balance and Sq/ft. Rentable Retail Space per Capita are based on values found in peer cities throughout the southwest. The value for Parkland Acres/1,000 People is a national average for the region as cited in the North Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Master Plan. As noted above, this target value will be revised in 2007, based on an update of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

Qualitative Measures

Is the City Achieving the Vision? The Larger Themes

The majority of the goals and policies established by the city in this Plan reflect ongoing efforts that will largely be achieved through the processes of development, redevelopment, and infill as well as city-initiated programs. Decision-makers need to be aware of the manner in which their decisions are working to implement or hinder the larger ideas or themes of the Plan. The following checklist will serve as the template for an annual Plan Implementation Assessment Report to be submitted to the City Council and Planning Commission.

Evaluating Implementation Progress

These questions and the reporting process assess the manner in which the city’s decision-making, budgeting, and policy actions over the past year have worked to achieve the specific Goals and Policies contained within the Comprehensive Plan. Each question will be given a two part response that identifies specific actions (e.g., policy decisions, development approvals or denials, programs initiated/continued, allocated funding, etc.) that:

• achieved or helped the city move closer to achieving certain goal(s) or policy(s), and
• illustrated a significant divergence from or lack of action taken to implement the Comprehensive Plan.

This review process should focus on “big picture” items and the report should be succinct, identifying larger patterns or areas where attention and action is needed to begin or continue implementation of the Plan. Many of these questions point not only to the successful completion of an implementation item (e.g., design guidelines, Downtown Master Plan, Transportation Master Plan) but also, and perhaps most importantly, to whether these tools have been used and upheld in a consistent manner to guide decision making and bring about the desired changes identified within the Comprehensive Plan. Summary recommendations should be provided at the end of each question outlining the next steps the city can take to implement the plan objectives in the given area. The Plan Implementation Assessment Report should be completed prior to the establishment of the Capital Improvements Plan for the following year so that the recommendations can inform this process.

Annual Plan Review Questions

Land Use

• ☑ Has the city created, adopted and adhered to a set of design criteria for new Master Planned Communities in the negotiation and approval of MPC development proposals in the BLM release area?
• ☑ Has the city created, adopted, and begun to implement the Downtown Master Plan?
• ☑ Has the city implemented the North Fifth Transit Supportive Concept Plan through street improvements and land use and development decisions within the designated corridor and station areas that are in keeping with the principles of transit-oriented development?
• ☑ Are approved projects deviating from the Plan, and if so, why?

Housing and Neighborhoods

• ☑ Has the city created and adopted a system of residential density criteria for Single-Family Low, Single-Family

Medium, and Mixed-Use Neighborhood areas

• Has the city used the residential density bonus system in a manner that has successfully resulted in high-quality, amenity-driven residential neighborhoods that contain such features as:
  • Mixed-use neighborhood centers,
  • Connected system of paths and trails,
  • Variety of housing designs with quality architectural design and materials,
  • Variety of housing types and pricing contained within one neighborhood, and
  • Accessible, improved parkland.
• Has the city created a Neighborhood Planning Strategy that establishes priorities for neighborhood planning and improvements and worked to implement that strategy?
• Has the city developed or supported partnerships to increase the supply of affordable and attainable housing throughout the city?

PARKS, TRAILS, AND OPEN SPACE

• Has the city identified and addressed parkland and recreation needs to improve the level of service?
• Has the city developed additional segments of the Wash Trail and added new local connections to it?

TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY

• Has the city successfully achieved its priority actions identified through a Transportation Master Plan?

• Has the city reduced the number of sawtooth roads and other impediments to safe, uninterrupted vehicular transportation?

• Has the city improved pedestrian connections throughout the city?

• Has the city worked with the RTC to increase availability of and access to transit?

PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES

• Has the city ensured that adequate services and infrastructure were in place at the time of new development?

COMMUNITY CHARACTER AND DESIGN

• Has the city consistently upheld design guidelines for development intended to improve the quality of site plans and architectural design within new development including Master Planned Communities?
• Has the city adopted and implemented infill development design guidelines?
• Has the city planned and installed streetscapes and or Gateway features at prominent locations to create a sense of place for the community?

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Has the city successfully created and implemented a process that monitors the ratio between residential and employment supporting land uses?

CHAPTER 9: DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

Purpose

The following “Development Checklists” are intended for use by the staff in their review of development proposals. These completed forms will be presented to the Planning Commission and City Council for consideration in their review of the proposed project. These forms address four types of development as indicated on the Land Use Plan Map: Master Planned Communities, Development within a Designated Transit Station Area, Mixed-Use Development, and Infill Development. These checklists have been derived from the Principles of Design, Goals, and Policies contained within the Comprehensive Master Plan and are intended as easy points of reference for staff and elected and appointed officials in their consideration and negotiation of development proposals. Utilization of these checklists will assist in understanding how a proposed development should relate to the Comprehensive Master Plan.

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North Las Vegas

Master Planned Communities

Development Name: __________________________________________________________________________

Reviewed by: _______________________________________________________________________________

Date of Review: _____________________________________________________________________________

Development Checklist

PRINCIPLE 1: MPCS SHOULD PROVIDE A VARIETY OF HOUSING TYPES AND CHARACTER

Chapter 9: Development

PRINCIPLE 2: MPCS SHOULD CONTAIN ONE OR MORE MIXED-USE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS THAT PROVIDE RESIDENTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOBS, HOUSING, GOODS, AND SERVICES.

PRINCIPLE 3: MPCS SHOULD PROVIDE A CONNECTED SYSTEM OF TRAILS, PARKS, AND OPEN SPACE.

North Las Vegas

PRINCIPLE 4: MPCS SHOULD PROMOTE MULTI-MODAL TRAVEL THROUGH BUILDING AND STREET DESIGN.

Chapter 9: Development

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North Las Vegas

Development within a Designated Transit Station Area

Development Name: __________________________________________________________________

Station Area: ___________________________________ Within ¼ mile of station? ______________

Reviewed by: ________________________________________________________________________

Date of Review: _____________________________________________________________________

Development Checklist

PRINCIPLE 1: STATION AREAS SHOULD INCORPORATE A COMPLEMENTARY MIX OF USES IN AN ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE MANNER.

Chapter 9: Development

PRINCIPLE 2: THE STATION AREA SHOULD INCORPORATE PUBLIC SPACES AND GREENWAYS INTO THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

PRINCIPLE 3: THE STATION AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOCUSES THE MOST DENSE, COMPACT DEVELOPMENT CLOSEST TO THE STATION.

PRINCIPLE 4: THE STATION AREA SHOULD HAVE A DISTINCTIVE AND ATTRACTIVE IDENTITY.

Mixed-Use Development

Development Name: __________________________________________________________________

Reviewed by: ________________________________________________________________________

Date of Review: ______________________________________________________________________

Development Checklist

PRINCIPLE 1: MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD CONTAIN USES THAT COMPLEMENT AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

PRINCIPLE 2: MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE COMPATIBLE IN SIZE AND SCALE WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA AND INTENDED FUNCTION.

Chapter 9: Development

PRINCIPLE 3: MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT MOBILITY AND CIRCULATION USING A VARIETY OF TRANSPORTATION MEANS.

PRINCIPLE 4: MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN ACTIVE AND INVITING PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT.

North Las Vegas

Infill Development in Existing Neighborhoods

Development Name:__________________________________________________________

Reviewed by:_______________________________________________________________

Date of Review:____________________________________________________________

Development Checklist

PRINCIPLE 1: INFILL DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE PREDOMINANT SCALE AND CHARACTER OF ADJACENT DEVELOPMENT.

PRINCIPLE 2: INFILL DEVELOPMENT SHOULD WORK TO ENHANCE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD AREAS.

If the infill project is a Neighborhood Center or has a Neighborhood Center component:

Chapter 9: Development

If the project is Residential:

North Las Vegas

Single-Family Low Development Checklist

Development review checklist for:

• developments designated as Single-Family Low in the Land Use Plan applying to exceed the “by right” density of 4.5 du/ac.

Development Name: ___________________________________________________________

Reviewed by: _________________________________ Date of Review: __________________

Base Density: ________________________________ Requested Density: __________________

BUILDING AND SITE DESIGN FEATURES

Chapter 9: Development

Additional Site Features and Amenities

Does the development include desired features and amenities described in Chapter 5 but not required of a development at this density?

Single-Family Medium Development Checklist

Development review checklist for:

• developments designated as Single-Family Low in the Land Use Plan applying for an AMP to achieve a density level within the Single-Family Medium category.
• developments designated as Single-Family Medium in the Land Use Plan applying to achieve a density level that exceeds the “by right” density of 6.01 du/ac.

Development Name: __________________________________________________________________

Reviewed by: _________________________________ Date of Review: _______________________

Base Density: _________________________________ Requested Density: ____________________

BUILDING AND SITE DESIGN FEATURES

Chapter 9: Development

SITE AMENITIES

North Las Vegas

MIX OF HOUSING TYPES

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North Las Vegas

Mixed-Use Neighborhood Development Checklist

Development review checklist for:

• developments designated as Single-Family Low in the Land Use Plan applying for an AMP to achieve a density level within the Mixed-Use Neighborhood category.
• developments designated as Single-Family Medium in the Land Use Plan applying for an AMP to achieve a density level within the Mixed-Use Neighborhood category.
• developments designated as Mixed-Use Neighborhood in the Land Use Plan applying to achieve a density level that exceeds the "by right" density of 6.01 du/ac.

Development Name: _____________________________________________________________________________

Reviewed by: ____________________________________ Date of Review: ________________________

Entitled Density: ___________________________ Requested Density: ________________________

BUILDING AND SITE DESIGN FEATURES

SITE AMENITIES

North Las Vegas

MIX OF HOUSING TYPES

Chapter 9: Development

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APPENDIX A: MAPS

Figure A-1: Parks and Recreation Figure A-2: Schools and Higher Education Institutions Figure A-3: Community Facilities and Services Figure A-4: Existing Land Use Figure A-5: Capacity Analysis for Vacant Lands Figure A-6: Capacity Analysis Figure A-7: Major Transportation Corridors Figure A-8: Pedestrian and Bike Trails Figure A-9: Transmission Line and Substation Plan

North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan

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PARKS AND RECREATION

FIGURE A-1: PARKS AND RECREATION

Parks

Existing Public Parks

F Parks (Future)

Developed and Undeveloped Parkland

[ ] Tot Lot [ ] Neighborhood Park [ ] Community Park

Special Area

[ ] Regional Park [ ] Special Recreation Facility

Joint School/Park

[ ] Joint School/Park

Golf Courses

[ ] Public Golf Course [ ] Private Golf Course

Open Space

[ ] Tule Springs National Register Site [ ] Conservation Transfer Area

Transportation

--- Main Streets +++ Union-Pacific Railroad --- Trails (Future)

Boundaries

[ ] North Las Vegas Boundary [ ] BLM Disposal Boundary

[N] This information is for display purposes only. No liability is assumed as to the accuracy of the data delineated hereon.

0 1 2 Miles

Park and Recreation Facilities

C L A R I O N Date: November 2006 Source: City of North Las Vegas GIS, 2000 Census TIGER files, Clarion Associates

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Current and Future School Sites

Note: Future schools without number do not yet have a name.

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COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES

FIGURE A-3: COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Community Facilities and Services

• Fire Station
• Future Fire Station
• Government Office
• Post Office
• Police Station
• Hospital
• Future Hospital
• Library
• Future Library

Transportation

• Main Streets
• Union-Pacific Railroad

Boundaries

• North Las Vegas Boundary
• BLM Disposal Boundary

This information is for display purposes only. No liability is assumed as to the accuracy of the data delineated hereon.

0 | 1 | 2 Miles

CLARION Date: November 2006 Source: City of North Las Vegas GIS, 2000 Census TIGER files, Clarion Associates

FIGURE A-4: EXISTING LAND USE

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Land Use

• Open Space
• Single Family Residential
• Multi-Family Residential
• Neighborhood Commercial
• Community Commercial
• Regional Commercial
• Schools
• Hotel
• Office
• Non-Retail Other
• Industrial
• Military
• Vacant
• Development Pending

Transporation

• Main Streets
• Union-Pacific Railroad

Boundaries

• North Las Vegas Boundary
• BLM Disposal Boundary

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EXISTING LAND USE (2005)

This information is for display purposes only. No liability is assumed as to the accuracy of the data delineated hereon. This map displays the existing land use as it was in May, 2005.

0 | 1 | 2 Miles

CLARION Date: November 2006 Source: City of North Las Vegas GIS, 2000 Census TIGER files, Clarion Associates

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FIGURE A-5: CAPACITY ANALYSIS FOR VACANT LANDS

Land Use

• Open Space
• Single Family Residential
• Multi-Family Residential
• Neighborhood Commercial
• Community Commercial
• Regional Commercial
• Schools
• Hotel
• Office
• Non-Retail Other
• Industrial
• Military
• Future Use Undetermined

Transportation

• Main Streets
• Union-Pacific Railroad

Boundaries

• North Las Vegas Boundary
• BLM Disposal Boundary

CAPACITY ANALYSIS FOR VACANT LANDS

CLARION Date: November 2006 Source: City of North Las Vegas GIS, 2000 Census TIGER files, Clarion Associates

FIGURE A-6: CAPACITY ANALYSIS

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CAPACITY ANALYSIS

Land Use

• Open Space
• Single Family Residential
• Multi-Family Residential
• Neighborhood Commercial
• Community Commercial
• Regional Commercial
• Schools
• Hotel
• Office
• Non-Retail Other
• Industrial
• Military
• Future Use Undetermined

Transportation

• Main Streets
• Union-Pacific Railroad

Boundaries

• North Las Vegas Boundary
• BLM Disposal Boundary

N This information is for display purposes only. No liability is assumed as to the accuracy of the data delineated hereon.

0 1 2 Miles

CLARION Date: November 2006 Source: City of North Las Vegas GIS, 2000 Census TIGER files, Clarion Associates

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FIGURE A-7: MAJOR TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS

Major Transportation Corridors

• Arterial Roadway Corridor
• Highway Corridor
• Railroad Corridor
• Planned Transit Corridor
• Planned Transit Station

Transportation

• Main Streets
• Union-Pacific Railroad

Boundaries

• North Las Vegas Boundary
• BLM Disposal Boundary

MAJOR TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS

This information is for display purposes only. No liability is assumed as to the accuracy of the data delineated hereon.

C L A R I O N Date: November 2006 Source: City of North Las Vegas GIS, 2000 Census TIGER files, Clarion Associates

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PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE TRAILS

CITY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS

Your Community of Choice

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Pedestrian and Bike Trails

• Existing On-Street Route
• Proposed On-Street Route
• Proposed Bike Lane
• Trails and Pathways

Transportation

• Main Streets
• Union-Pacific Railroad

Boundaries

• North Las Vegas Boundary
• BLM Disposal Boundary

N This information is for display purposes only. No liability is assumed as to the accuracy of the data delineated hereon.

C L A R I O N Date: November 2006 Source: City of North Las Vegas GIS, 2000 Census TIGER files, Clarion Associates

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TRANSMISSION LINE AND SUBSTATION PLAN

FIGURE A-9: TRANSMISSION LINE AND SUBSTATION PLAN

Transmission Line Corridors = Existing = Existing with Planned Upgrades = Future Planned = CLV Data - Existing Lines = CLV Data - Proposed Lines = Existing & Planned Transmission within Apex

Substations ● Existing or Approved ⊕ Proposed Future

Transportation — Main Streets +++ Union-Pacific Railroad

Boundaries ··· North Las Vegas Boundary — BLM Disposal Boundary

N This information is for display purposes only. No liability is assumed as to the accuracy of the data delineated hereon.

0 1 2 Miles

Date: May 29, 2024 Source: City of North Las Vegas GIS, 2020 Census TIGER files, Clarion Associates, NV Energy Company

APPENDIX B: EXISTING CONDITIONS

The City of North Las Vegas is a dynamic community in one of the fastest changing areas of the United States: The Las Vegas Valley. The task of developing a long-term Comprehensive Plan in a community that is literally changing on a daily basis is a challenging one. At the same time, the need for the guidance provided by the plan document is all the more critical to assist the community in making decisions that will serve its current and long term goals and prosperity. This Appendix provides an overview of the current conditions and trends in the City of North Las Vegas that constitute the core aspects of the planning environment. Given the fast pace of change in the city, this overview focuses on illustrating larger community trends and context, rather than capturing static pictures of conditions in 2005.

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The Las Vegas Valley is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation.

How did North Las Vegas Get Its Start?

The City of North Las Vegas occupies roughly 82 square miles and is located in Clark County, Nevada. The region was originally settled in the 1860’s by Mormons as a staging point between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Settlement in the valley remained rural, with an economy centered on ranching and farming activity, until the discovery of an artesian water basin around 1918. This water source allowed for wells and helped to establish the Las Vegas Valley as an urban area. A decade later, the construction of Boulder Dam (Hoover Dam) along the Colorado River was authorized. This major public works project created Lake Mead and brought with it an influx of workers in search of employment, and helped stabilize the local economy during the Great Depression. The Dam project also offered the benefits of an inexpensive power source, new roads, and new recreational amenities to attract tourists.

World War II brought a new source of growth to the Valley. In 1941, the Western Air Express runway and fields were developed, later to become Nellis Air Force Base. It was not until after the war that North Las Vegas became an incorporated city—on May 1, 1946. The legalization of gambling brought the proliferation of casinos in the Valley and served as a steady source of growth.¹

While North Las Vegas’ growth and development was tied to the gaming industry, the city’s location along major transportation corridors also allowed it to establish a substantial industrial base. Interstate 15 runs through the city northeast-southwest, and currently serves as the major transportation corridor. The addition of the east-west Northern Beltway limited access freeway will help divert some traffic from I-15 and facilitate easier access to northern areas of the city. Another major transportation feature is the Union Pacific Railroad, which runs relatively

parallel to Interstate 15 through the city and has served to support industrial development along that corridor.

Residential development within North Las Vegas has been substantial and increasing in recent years. The decision of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to release lands in the northern portion of the city limits for auction and development has significantly increased the supply of land and the associated expectations of growth. It is this new supply of developable land, which will be released over the next few decades, coupled with consistently high growth within the Valley that sets the stage for the update of the Comprehensive Plan. The dynamics of the scale of development and growth involved with the BLM land auctions are explored more in the following sections.

What does NLV Look Like Today?

North Las Vegas' Residents

POPULATION AND POPULATION GROWTH

North Las Vegas is currently home to roughly 190,000 residents. Whereas the Las Vegas Valley has been the recipient of a consistently high annual growth rate of around 7%, North Las Vegas only recently has experienced this high growth rate. Between 1980 and 1990, North Las Vegas grew at roughly 1.2% annually. This rate then jumped to a 14% annual growth rate between 1990 and 2000, and North Las Vegas grew 142% in this decade, nearly twice the rate of growth experienced in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the same period. This growth rate has moderated slightly towards 11% in recent years, and is expected to move closer to the Valley-wide rate of 7% annually in the future, due principally to land availability.

Figure B-1: Rate of Population Growth 1980-2004

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Source: U.S. Census, 2000.

Source: NLV Comprehensive Plan 1999, U.S. Census, 2000.

Demographic Composition

The composition of the city’s residents has shifted in the past 20 years toward a more diverse mix. The growth of the Hispanic population has been notable, increasing from 11% of the population in 1980 to 41% in 2004. Within the Downtown, growing diversity has begun to impact the business mix and character. The emergence of a Hispanic emphasis in the Downtown points to an opportunity for the city to create and reinforce unique neighborhoods and districts to capture and reflect the cultural dynamics of its residents.

In 2000, the population was 115,500 people and tended to be younger than in the MSA as a whole with over one third of the population under 18 years of age. At the same time, North Las Vegas had a smaller senior population than found in the MSA with only 6% of the population over 65 years, compared to 11% in the MSA.

Figure B-2: Diversity of Population 1980-2000

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Source: NLV Comprehensive Plan 1999, U.S. Census, 2000.

Table B-2: Comparison of Housing Conditions in 2000

Source: U.S. Census, 200

A Livable Community

As previously described, it was not until recently that North Las Vegas became the focus of the high growth pressure it faces today. Slower growth allowed North Las Vegas to be a community where housing prices remained affordable even as those in other communities in the Valley skyrocketed. This translated into higher levels of homeownership than in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). At the 2000 Census, the city had a 70% homeownership rate compared to 59% in the Valley as a whole. The increasing market demand for land, however, has caused property values to rise, as seen in other communities in the Valley. This could lead to problems in terms of housing affordability. In 2000, the city already had 32% of its homeowners exceeding the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recommended 30% of monthly income expenditure on housing. Affordability was worse for renters, with nearly 40% of all renters spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs.

North Las Vegas’ Neighborhoods

North Las Vegas currently has roughly 58,000 residential units and offers a variety of neighborhoods, from older homes in the downtown to the newer master planned communities. Naturally, housing development has corresponded with population growth, meaning that a large amount of the city's housing stock was constructed after 1990. According to the 2000 Census, nearly 60% of all housing units in the city were built between 1990 and 2000. Since 2000, the city has added roughly 21,640 new units, representing an additional 60% increase in the number of housing units between 2000 and 2004.

Appendix B: Existing

Table B-3: Annual Approved Development, 1999-2004

Source: City of North Las Vegas

Housing Conditions Survey

In 2009, a housing conditions survey was undertaken by the City of North Las Vegas utilizing Building Inspectors. The survey reviewed 57,199 single-family homes which were inspected for roof conditions, concrete- work, building exterior as well as front yard conditions and minor nuisance violations. It should be noted that this was a visual snapshot in time and the condition of rear yards and the interiors of homes were not inspected. Additionally, 468 lots were either vacant land, which is zoned residential, or a survey could not be completed. These lots are not included in the survey results. Nor issues or minor issues were found on 48,179 residences or 84% of the total units. Deterioration issues to the structure were found on 7,304 units or 13%. Substandard living conditions were found on 1,695 units or 3%. Twenty-one (21) units were noted to be in such a state of disrepair as to be virtually uninhabitable.

The results of survey help substantiate the conclusion that while efforts may be necessary to stabilize and improving the condition of some single-family housing within the City, overall, single-family housing stock is decent, safe and affordable.

North Las Vegas

Table B-4: Existing Housing Conditions Survey - 2009

**Note: The survey was a visual “snapshot in time.” Surveys of the interior of homes and rear yards were not conducted.

Affordable Housing

One of the major functions of the Neighborhood Services Division is the development and implementation, along with other HCP Consortium member entities, of the HUD Consolidated Plan. This Plan is reviewed and updated every five (5) years.

An Analysis of Projected Growth and Demographics

The projected population at build out is 407,498 includes land not yet released by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

See the American Community Survey, last updated October 27, 2009, at www.census.gov/acs for demographic characteristics of the City of North Las Vegas.

In an effort to stabilize neighborhoods heavily effected by foreclosures and vacant homes, a substantial amendment to the 2008 Action Plan, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, was developed through the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA).

Table B-5: Projected Population 2010 – Build-Out

Inventory of Affordable Housing

See the HUD Consolidated Plan (HCP) Consortium FY 1010-2014 Strategic Plan.

The HCP is developed through a Consortium comprised of Clark County and the cities of North Las Vegas, mesquite and Boulder City. The HCP identifies a series of community development and affordable housing activities over a five (5) year planning horizon. The HCP is endorsed and adopted by the North Las Vegas City Council and it provides a logical link between the city's Comprehensive Master Plan and the implementation of the adopted HCP by the City and its partners.

According to the HCP for 2010 – 2014, affordable housing activities include support for new construction of rental housing to tenant based rental assistance. These activities expand the supply of affordable renter and owner housing for low-income and very low-income household. (Figure 7 of the Action Plan 2010.)

Current and Prospective Need for Affordable Housing

The housing needs of moderate, low and very low-income households are best addressed by the HCP Consortium. The HCP Consortium determined general priorities that are listed in the Strategic Plan section of the HCP. Not surprisingly, it identifies high priority needs as those addressing extremely low-income households, extremely low-income existing owner households, persons with special needs and first-time homebuyers. Medium priority needs address moderate-income renter households and moderate-income existing owner households.

Impediments to Development of Affordable Housing

The HCP Consolidated Plan 2010 - 2014 identifies barriers to affordable housing within the HCP Consortium for which strategies will be implemented to remove. They are the legislature, citizen review, water fees, limited land availability, development fees, permit and plans review time, rezoning or variance processes, federal and state environmental protection regulation, Boulder City voter-adopted growth controls, financing for homeownership and community support. (An implementation study is currently underway and should be ready for dissemination by early 2011.)

Analysis of the Characteristics of Land Most Suitable for Development of Affordable Housing

The type and location of residential uses that are found through the City are determined and shown on the City of North Las Vegas Comprehensive Land Use Map. Each of the land use classifications has related zoning classifications that regulate the type and density of residential development. As of May 2010, the following acreage and percent of total land use is as follows:

North Las Vegas

Table B-6: Residential Acreage and Percent of Land Use – 2010

• The PUD and MUD land uses may be comprised wholly (PUD) or partially (PUD and MUD) of residential development.

An Analysis of the Needs and Appropriate Methods for Creating Affordable Units through Development or Rehabilitation

The HCP provides a detailed Strategic Plan for addressing the affordable housing needs based on cost burden and/r over-crowded conditions for extremely low-income, low-income and moderate-income renter and owner-occupied households. The Strategic Plan also creates opportunities for homeownership through the development or rehabilitation of owner-occupies units, along with down-payment assistance for qualified households, over the five-year HCP horizon.

A Plan for Maintaining and Developing Affordable Housing

The HCP is designed with a series of objectives intended to be achieved over a five-year time horizon. These objectives are implemented through an annual Action Plan. Each year, the City, along with HCP Consortium member entities, prepared such an Action Plan. The Action Plan allocates funds to specific projects that implement the objectives in the HCP.

The Downtown

The Downtown, which centers along Lake Mead and North Las Vegas Boulevards just east of I-15, represents the oldest portion of the city. Street blocks tend to be shorter and land uses more mixed, conditions which promote a high level of pedestrian activity. The Downtown is home to city government offices, including the courthouse and various municipal services, such as a post office and library. Currently, the city's Civic Complex is located on Civic Center Drive, just off of Lake Mead Boulevard, but the city has plans to move the Complex to a more visible location within the Downtown. There are numerous parks in the Downtown, most notably the larger Hartke and Petitti Parks, both of which have public pool facilities. Cheyenne Sports Complex is also nearby.

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City Hall at the City's Civic Complex.

The Downtown area is a predominantly Hispanic community. In 2000, the Downtown area was nearly 70% Hispanic, and was home to 66% of the city's entire Hispanic population. By 2004, the Hispanic proportion of the Downtown population had increased to nearly 80%. This concentration has led to the emergence of a Hispanic business cluster, including numerous restaurants and stores.

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The downtown has seen the emergence of a Hispanic business district.

The downtown faces several challenges. Commercial strips lack visual appeal and cohesion, with numerous vacant lots and structures interspersed between active businesses. The configuration of Lake Mead, Las Vegas Boulevard, and the Civic Center arterials as large seven-lane roadways makes pedestrian and bicycle transportation difficult. Blighted conditions, in both housing and commercial structures, led to the designation of two redevelopment areas: the Downtown and North of Downtown Redevelopment Areas. Master Plans were completed for each of these areas in 1990 and 1999, respectively. The Redevelopment Area designation allows access to additional funding sources and will assist local government efforts in the future development and revitalization of Downtown.

Master Planned Communities (MPC)

MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES OF THE 1990s

Master Planned Community development first began in the City of North Las Vegas in the 1990s. These developments tend to b single-use residential areas with a consistent architectural style (predominantly stucco), and are generally walled. These walls face the

North Las Vegas

major arterial grid network, which define the perimeters of these communities. Internal local street networks tend to be more meandering with numerous cul-de-sacs.

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A residential development typical of 1990s construction.

With few exceptions, amenities, such as parks, retail and employment, are not located within these developments, but along nearby major arterials such as Craig Road and Cheyenne Avenue. The commercial and employment uses in these areas tend to be strip-style developments. Nearby public parks include Theron H. Goynes Park, Monte Vista Park, Seastrand Park, Cheyenne Ridge Park, and the Silver Mesa Park and Recreation Center.

Challenges facing this portion of the city revolve around integrating desired amenities, non-auto transportation features and greenway connections into the neighborhoods. A regional trail is currently planned through this area that would connect neighborhoods to Craig Ranch Regional Park and the downtown. The challenge will be to provide safe and convenient connections from within the neighborhoods to this trail system and other amenities given the predominance of walls and a limited pedestrian system.

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The Aliante development offers a more diverse mix of housing and amenities than older developments

NEW MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

New Master Planned Communities represent a major trend in current (post 2000) residential development, a trend that will continue to dominate future development in northern portions of the city. Newer MPCs have emerged with a greater mix of types and styles of residences, both single-family and multi-family, and with commercial centers interspersed within residential areas. More emphasis is placed on connective greenways, sometimes structured as golf courses, and developed park space, including ponds and playground equipment.

New Master Planned Communities will have a significant impact on the future style of neighborhoods and land use mix in the city and represent an opportunity for the city to encourage high-quality development. By examining successful innovative projects in other communities, the city can help shape goals and policies for how this type of development should progress in the future. One major dynamic that will impact these developments will be the future University of Nevada campus in the north and the planned North 5th Transit Corridor. Both of these projects could impact the desired approach to style and density in the city’s northeast area.

Transportation

North Las Vegas has several major transportation features. Interstate 15 crosses the city in a north – south diagonal along the southern boundary of the incorporated area. The Union-Pacific Railway runs parallel to I-15, creating a major transportation corridor that serves as the basis for industrial development in this area. Highway 215 Northern Beltway is another highway corridor that creates an east-west connection across the northern area of the city to I-15. The North Las Vegas Air Terminal is located in the southwest corner of the City, and provides limited commercial air transportation service. Most commercial air travel for North Las Vegas is provided by the McCarran International Airport which is currently examining plans to add a second airport location.

The city roadway network is comprised of a grid-style arterial system. Traffic congestion is a noted problem along various arterials, located primarily on section lines at 1 ½ mile intervals within the city, particularly along the I-15 corridor in the southern portions of the city. The extent of congestion has not yet been documented as the city currently does not have a transportation model to measure roadway level-of-service failures. Such a model would look at traffic counts on different roadways and measure roadway function based upon the width and capacity of the road. This type of model is very useful in identifying roadway capacity problems and weighing the effectiveness of different roadway improvement alternatives. The model would also help to plan for traffic impacts that would result from future development and allow for better coordination of transportation planning and investment. The city is currently looking to develop this modeling capacity.

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Traffic congestion impacts quality of life and is a growing problem valley-wide.

A major transportation variable that will impact the development and use of I-15, beltways, and other major roadways in Clark County is the Congressional decision regarding the use of Yucca Mountain as a high-level radioactive waste disposal site. While the details of the transportation schedule and routes to be used remain unknown at the present time, it is clear that Interstate 15, as a default truck route for north-south movement, will be used. Beltways in the north and west may also be used to access I-15 and US 95. The Yucca Mountain project will result in the transportation of high-volumes of waste for at least 40 years and will require coordinated planning with city, county, state and federal agencies.

Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space

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The Craig Ranch Golf Course will become Craig Ranch Regional Park.

North Las Vegas is host to many parks and recreation amenities. The recent Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan Update (2004) classified these amenities into six broad categories. In their 2003 inventory, the city had the following public parks:

• One regional park,
• Two community parks,
• 15 neighborhood parks,
• Three joint/school parks,
• Seven special recreation facilities, and
• Three mini-parks.

These parks and recreation amenities are illustrated on Figure A-1 Parks and Recreation, located in Appendix A.

The city has been working to keep the parks well-maintained, and the Master Plan found the overall rating of park maintenance to be very high. The amount of total parkland, however, was found to be highly deficient. Whereas the nationally adjusted parkland standard is 7.5 acres/1000 residents, North Las Vegas only had 2.51 acres/1,000 residents at the time of the Master Plan. To increase the amount of park space to serve the current and future population of North Las Vegas in both variety and amount, the Master Plan suggests a schedule of additional park and recreation facilities. The land purchase and facility development for these parks has already been successfully funded, and park creation is underway. Despite the successful implementation of the entire Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan Update (2004), a citywide parkland deficiency still exists, one that will increase as the population grows in the future.

Two recent developments have impacted the future capacity of the city to fund and preserve parks and open space. The 1998 Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act provides a rich source of funding for parks and open space preservation. This act allows the revenue from the sale of Federal lands to fund capital improvements on federally managed recreation areas, conservation planning for Clark County, conservation and environmental education efforts, sensitive land acquisitions and restoration of Lake Tahoe. This source of revenue has thus far financed the implementation of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update (2004) recommendations, and will be able to supply future revenue to support the purchase of additional parks.

Secondly, the discovery of paleontological fossil deposits and archeological/cultural artifacts on the BLM disposal land has resulted in the listing of approximately 960 acres as the Tule Springs National Register Site which will entail the preservation of this land as open space in the northwestern corner of the city. In addition, two sensitive plant habitats, the bear poppy and buckwheat, have recently been identified within the same area. Conservation of these plant habitats could expand the open space area around the Tule Springs National Register Site to over 1,300 acres.

Schools and Libraries

SCHOOLS

All schools that serve city residents are within the Clark County School District (CCSD). In July of 2001, CCSD reorganized into five service regions to better coordinate the level of communication between schools and home. North Las Vegas is within the Northeast Region and is served by 23 elementary, seven middle, and four high schools. In addition, Hayden Elementary and Johnson Middle Schools are scheduled to open in 2007. (See Figure A-2: Schools and Higher Education Institutions, located in Appendix A.)

Higher education institutions in North Las Vegas include the Community College of Southern Nevada’s Cheyenne Campus, located just northeast of downtown, which had an estimated 35,000 enrolled students in the 2004-2005 academic year. The proposed future University of Nevada campus, which would be located just north of the Northern Beltway along Pecos Road, could have an estimated 25,000 students, and would be a significant addition to the city.

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Steve Cozine Elementary School in North Las Vegas.

LIBRARIES

The North Las Vegas Library District currently operates its Main Library at 2300 Civic Center Drive in the City Complex. The District just recently completed and opened the first new full-service library in 40 years on Deer Springs Road in the Alliante development. The city also has tentative plans to construct a future library facility near the intersection of Alexander Road and Martin Luther King Boulevard. (See Figure A-3: Community Facilities and Services, located in Appendix A.)

Health and Safety Services

HOSPITALS

One hospital currently serves residents of North Las Vegas: the North Vista Hospital Medical Center, located at 1409 East Lake Mead Boulevard. Plans are underway to add two more hospitals in the northern portion of the city: a Veterans Administration Hospital just south of the Northern Beltway along Pecos Road, and Meadows Hospital at Losee Road and Tropical Parkway. (See Figure A-3: Community Facilities and Services, located in Appendix A.)

POLICE

The North Las Vegas Police Department is currently headquartered at the Public Safety and Administration Building on East Lake Mead Boulevard, which also serves as the South Area Command. The second area command center is the Northwest Area Command located at 3755 West Washburn Road. A New Justice Facility housing the Detention Center was recently completed in February 2005. The Department is currently staffed by 245 police and 120 detention commissioned personnel and 223 authorized civilian personnel, patrolling in seven districts across the city. (See Figure A-3: Community Facilities and Services, located in Appendix A.)

While the department experienced a staffing increase of 98% between 1992 and 2002, staff increases have not kept pace with growth since 1997. As expected, call volumes have increased with population. Insufficient staffing, however, has contributed to an increase in “stacking” time, the amount of time in between when a call is received and an officer

North Las Vegas

dispatched, from 17.57 minutes to 24.37 minutes (1992-2004). The increased size of the developed area as well as traffic congestion have also increased the amount of travel time once the officer is dispatch from 5.08 minutes to 6.26 minutes between 1999 and 2004 (City of North Las Vegas Police Department Historical Trends data).

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North Las Vegas Police on patrol.

Community crime data indicate that between 1993 and 2002 violent crimes decreased by 14.4% while property crimes increased by 31%, attributed largely to the increase in more affluent, high-end home construction. In order to meet the needs of the city into the future, the Police Department anticipates needing two additional Area Command Centers to serve the developing areas to the north, and to increase staffing from the sworn staff to 1000 population ratio of 1.44 in 2002 to achieve a ratio of 1.82 (City of North Las Vegas Police Department Staffing Plan Final Report, 2003).

FIRE

Fire and emergency response services are provided by the North Las Vegas Fire Department, with a home base at Fire Station 51 on East Carey Avenue. The department currently operates out of six fire stations, with plans for the construction of a seventh at Azure Avenue and Losee Road. This seventh station will be constructed to handle the additional call load due to rapid

growth in the Azure Avenue area. The city's Fire Department works in conjunction with Clark County and Las Vegas fire response services with a policy of automatic aid. This agreement lowers response time by allowing the closest responder to aid a call, regardless of jurisdictional boundaries.

Due to recent rapid growth, the North Las Vegas Fire department has seen an increase in its average response times. Whereas the national standard response time is to have a 4-minute response 90% of the time, the city has increased from a 6-minute response 90% of the time to a 6-minute response 60% of the time in the last few years. Over the past year, the Fire Department has been working to document the response call volume and times to assist in planning for increased citywide fire response capacity.

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Central Fire Station 51 is also the center of Fire Operations. (Photo courtesy of the North Las Vegas website)

As the city increases in density, and thereby in height, another issue the Fire Department will face is how to update its equipment to serve a changing physical city. Current trucks are not equipped with ladders high enough to service a building in excess of 75 feet, or three stories, in height. (See Figure A-3: Community Facilities and Services, located in Appendix A.)

Water and Sewer

Water Supply

The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) is a regional water authority responsible for managing the region’s water resources and ensuring adequate future water supplies for the Las Vegas Valley. SNWA was created in 1991 by seven local agencies whose representatives now serve as its governing agency: Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Big Bend Water District, Clark County Water Reclamation District, and Las Vegas Valley Water District. The Southern Nevada Water System (SNWS) diverts water from Lake Mead and treats and distributes the water from the Alfred Merritt Smith and River Mountains water treatment facilities. Water is then distributed to the purveyors via a looped regional system of pipelines within the Valley. Smaller distribution lines and reservoir storage tanks are the responsibility of the city. The water supplied to the city by the SNWA is supplemented by six production wells owned and operated by the city. In addition to water treatment and supply, the SNWA also creates and maintains a Water Resource Management Plan and operates water conservation programs which range from educational resources and watering restrictions to their Water Smart Home Certification Program.

The city owns and operates its own water utility system. Customers served by the city water utility include residents within the North Las Vegas city limits, unincorporated areas of Clark County, and some areas located within the City of Las Vegas. Water is supplied from two sources: the Colorado River supplied through the Southern Nevada Water System and groundwater wells located within the Las Vegas Valley Artesian Basin. The city is currently updating its Water Master Plan for the city.

Wastewater Treatment

The Utilities Department of North Las Vegas was created in January of 2004 and is responsible for facilitating water distribution and sanitary sewer collection for all of North Las Vegas and some unincorporated areas in Clark County. Most of the city’s wastewater (95%) is collected to the south east corner of the city where it is intercepted by the City of Las Vegas for treatment. The remaining 5% is treated by Clark County. The city is updating the City of North Las Vegas Wastewater Master Plan which will be completed by late 2006. The city is also pursuing a water reclamation facility to be constructed in the near future. Current city wastewater flows are roughly 16 million gallons per day (MGD). The planned facility would have an initial capacity of 20-25 MGD, expandable to 50 MGD to accommodate future growth.

The city recently became a member of the Clean Water Coalition which is tasked to implement the Systems Conveyance and Operations Program (SCOP) our improve our community’s water quality through construction of a 17 mile pipeline that will carry high quality treated wastewater deep into Lake Mead.

Storm Drainage

The Las Vegas Valley Flood Control Master Plan Update prepared for the Clark County Regional Flood Control District in September 2002 identifies the existing and future facility inventory for the City of North Las Vegas. The city is in the process of updating this plan with the Clark County Regional Flood Control District and the new plan will be completed in 2007. The city also has the North neighborhood Flood Control Master Plan (July 2002) for a portion of the city which shows local facilities that the city has developers construct.

Power Delivery System

Electric power is supplied to the city by Nevada Power Company. Older power distribution uses overhead, wood-pole lines, while newer

facilities are installed underground per the city's code. Higher voltage transmission lines are installed overhead. Current and planned transmission lines and substations within and directly around the city are illustrated on Figure A-9: Transmission Line and Substation Plan. The city has and will continue to cooperate with Nevada Power Company on infrastructure planning.

Air Quality

The Clark County Department of Air Quality Management (SDAQM) is responsible for monitoring our air, developing proper control measures, and educating the citizens of Clark County on how they can impact air quality. The Monitoring section of the DAQM operates air quality monitoring instruments to measure ambient concentrations of pollutants.

The specific pollutants of most concern within the Valley include ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10). The dominant source of elevated PM10 levels within the Valley is windblown dust originating primarily from disturbed or unstable desert soils during moderate to high wind conditions and secondarily from both paved and unpaved roads. High to moderate ozone levels are of local origin coming primarily from vehicle exhaust emissions, but they are also significantly influenced from pollutants blown in from other areas. The origin of carbon monoxide is largely local urban traffic.

Land Use Patterns

WHERE HAS THE CITY BEEN GROWING?

Growth in the city has followed a northward fanning pattern. Most of the original downtown area was built in the 1960s and early 1970s. Development in this area is very smaller than those found elsewhere in the city. In the late 1970s and 1980s, growth moved to the north and west of downtown. In the 1990s, the city saw its first Master Planned Community development occur to the northwest of downtown, and these developments tended to be predominantly single-use residential areas.

Recent and future growth is occurring, and expected to continue in the northern portion of the city where the BLM is auctioning its lands for development. The size of the land releases is conducive to the development of MPCs. Recent developments, such as Aliante, are representative of what newer MPCs may look like. In contrast to those of the 1990s, the newer MPCs tend to incorporate more amenities and services such as open space, commercial centers, parks, and golf courses. They also have more variety in terms of housing, including both multi-family units and a range of single-family residences.

Appendix B: Existing

Figure B-3: Chronology of Development

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Source: U.S. Census, 2000, and Clarion Associates.

CURRENT LAND USE MIX

Developed land currently accounts for less than half (45%) of the city's total land area. (See Figure A-4: Existing Land Use, located in Appendix A.) Residential development is the single largest land use, accounting for nearly one third of all developed land in the city. Of this residential land 27.5% is occupied by single-family residences and 3% by multi-family developments.

Commercial activity, including neighborhood, community, and regional commercial development, constitutes roughly 4% of developed land. Commercial activity tends to be located along major arterials such as Craig Road, Lake Mead Boulevard, and North Las Vegas Boulevard. Some commercial nodes also exist, such as the intersection of Simmons and Ann, but they are not the current predominant form, which is primarily strip commercial development.

Industrial land uses occupy 7.6% of the total developed land area within the city. These uses are concentrated most predominantly along the I-15/ Union Pacific Railroad corridor which includes Losee Boulevard. The Cheyenne Technology Corridor is another key industrial area, thanks in part to the economic development strategy for that corridor. In addition, new industrial development has begun to emerge along Craig Road.

The presence of Nellis Air Force Base and the National Guard lands in the northeast portion of the city are also a significant component of the land use pattern. Past uses for military

North Las Vegas

training exercises, and current military flight paths impact not only the land owned by the military, but also those in between and to the east of the base and National Guard area.

Table B-7: Current Land Use Mix of Developed Lands

Source: City of North Las Vegas parcel data, Clarion Associates, June 2005.

APPENDIX C: PLANNING ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The process of updating the Comprehensive Plan provides an opportunity for the city to better understand the dynamics of growth, development, services, and quality of life for residents. Early in the process, the project team worked to evaluate current growth, infrastructure, service provision, and development trends to determine what issues and opportunities should be part of the City's strategy for its future. These issues and opportunities were identified, confirmed, and refined through a process that involved a detailed review of the Visioning 2025 document, and a series of interviews and meetings with community stakeholders, staff, the Citizens' Focus Group, and elected and appointed officials.

The issues identified through this process are summarized in this Appendix and are organized into the following categories:

• Growth and Development,
• Housing and Neighborhoods,
• Employment and Jobs,
• Community Identity and Image,
• Transportation and Circulation, and
• Quality Services and Facilities.

Growth and Development

Issue 1

Establishing Pivotal Centers of Activity

The Visioning 2025 document establishes the concept of Pivotal Centers (employment and activity centers or corridors in North Las Vegas) and identifies five areas: Downtown, Northern Development Area (future), Industrial areas, Cheyenne Technology Corridor; and the Craig Road and Camino al Norte Area. The plan update process will address how to incorporate and build on the pivotal centers concept, including how to more specifically define the location, purpose and characteristics of these centers, and how they relate to the rest of the city.

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The Cheyenne Technology Corridor has proved an economic success for the city.

Issue 2

The Future University of Nevada Campus and the Northern Development Area

The University of Nevada is in the early states of planning a new campus in the Northern Development Area. This planned new campus could ultimately serve up to 25,000 students and is a major influence in future planning within North Las Vegas. The University has a dense, urban concept plan that has the potential to significantly shape this part of the city for many decades. The city is currently working with University of Nevada to proactively plan for the land around the campus. This plan update will incorporate current thinking and explore potential options for the Northern Development Area.

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Vacant lands are found throughout developed areas of the City.

Issue 3

A Large Supply of Infill Land, but no Infill Policies

Development in NLV has steadily grown northward but, in the process, has left vacant parcels of various sizes scattered within otherwise developed areas. The Visioning 2025 plan promotes infill as an efficient use of land, but the city currently lacks policies to guide infill development. It will be important to ensure that infill is done in a way that improves, rather than disrupts, the quality and character of existing neighborhoods and developed properties. This update process is an opportunity to develop relevant infill policies—both to promote infill and to protect existing neighborhoods.

Issue 4

Future Master Planned Communities

North Las Vegas, unlike other cities in the valley, has the potential for thousands of acres of new Master Planned Community (MPC) development on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) release lands. The planning process offers an opportunity to explore contemporary projects in comparable communities, both in the Las Vegas Valley and the greater southwest, to determine what types of market-driven development could be happening in the city. The city could potentially investigate market-driven products such as mixed-use, urban villages, neo-traditional, new urbanism and transit-oriented development. The city may focus on creating communities offering a live, work, and play environment — a mixed use environment with internal connectivity, areas of natural landscape, open space, and other amenities.

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The new Aliante MPC development.

Appendix C: Planning Issues and Opportunities

Issue 5

Commercial Centers Versus Retail Strips

The main commercial areas in the city currently tend to be located along major arterial streets. The current "commercial option" allows any property that fronts an intersection of two 100-foot or wider arterials to be converted to commercial. Commercial nodes at intersections tend to morph into continuous strip commercial development along major roadways. If the community wants to emphasize commercial centers, as described in the Visioning 2025 document, this plan update should address appropriate locations for commercial centers and whether or not to limit strip commercial development in the future. Furthermore, North Las Vegas has a relatively limited amount of neighborhood services and convenience retail in close proximity to residential areas. The discussion of future commercial development will also consider how to better integrate land uses, particularly in the newly developing areas to the north.

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A commercial center in North Las Vegas.

Issue 6

Policies for Quality Mixed-Use Development

The valley is seeing increased market demand for mixed-use development, including higher density housing, but the city does not have policies to guide this development—either where it should go, or how it should be designed and integrated into neighborhoods. Mixed-use projects are currently done by development agreement, but there is little guidance within the Comprehensive Plan to ensure that projects are done well. Staff and others point to examples of mixed-used development outside of the community, such as The District in Henderson, as a potentially desirable goal for the community. These and other examples could guide the development of relevant policies for mixed-use areas in the city.

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Current redevelopment areas target underutilized areas of the downtown that have higher levels of blighted structures and vacant land.

Issue 7

Redevelopment in Appropriate Underdeveloped Zones

The city currently has two redevelopment areas: Downtown and North of Downtown. While the redevelopment plan for the north redevelopment area dates back to the last Comprehensive Plan, the downtown redevelopment area has not been updated since it's completion in 1990. The 1999 Comprehensive Plan does not include policies to address unique attributes of redevelopment areas versus other parts of our community. Policies that could be explored may include identifying different standards as appropriate to the architecture, function, and character of different areas. The Downtown and North of Downtown, for example, may ultimately merit different standards than the rest of the community. The plan update is also an opportunity to explore whether to establish any new redevelopment areas in areas where the market indicates land is currently underdeveloped and promote proactive redevelopment policies.

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Development trends within the Las Vegas Valley are showing demand for higher-density mixed-use development, like The District in Henderson.

Issue 8

Urbanization and Higher Density

North Las Vegas appears to be transitioning from a suburban community to one that is more urban in character. The Regional Transportation Commission's proposed transit corridor along North 5th Street would connect to the future UNLV campus and plan for higher densities around transit stations. The real estate market shows demand for higher density uses, both valley-wide and in the city. The plan update is an opportunity to test different suburban and urban land use alternatives and evaluate the implications of different land use scenarios. Through this process, the city will adjust the Land Use Plan and policies to address the demand for higher density development.

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The large open lands of the BLM in the northern portion of the city contain areas of environmental and historical significance.

Appendix C: Planning Issues and Opportunities

Issue 9

Conservation

In 1998, Congress enacted the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act. This act has had major impacts in Southern Nevada on land availability and in providing additional funding sources for city parks, natural areas and trails. The city has a substantial amount of BLM acreage within its boundaries that may have cultural, historic and aesthetic significance that the plan will need to address in an environmentally sensitive context.

The Southern Nevada Planning Coalition is also in the process of developing open space guidelines and opportunities for regional open space throughout the Valley. The city’s plan may offer new guidance on environmental awareness, sustainability, habitat preservation and energy conservation.

Housing and Neighborhoods

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Newer residential areas have seen more parks and other amenities incorporated into their developments.

Issue 1

Integrating the Concept of "Villages and Neighborhoods"

The Visioning 2025 document directs the city to develop as a "collection of villages and neighborhoods." Achieving this goal of higher-quality neighborhoods involves addressing patterns of development in new areas and how best to modify existing residential areas to better meet this concept of neighborhood identity. Newer MPCs have been moving closer to creating villages and neighborhoods by providing some amenities, such as parks and retail areas. Older subdivisions (the 1980s and 1990s era development) in the midsection of the city however, lack many of the unique and unifying elements of true neighborhoods such as connected walkways, community centers, or neighborhood parks and schools.

Integrating some of these amenities into residential areas will involve examining the trend of small lot development, which is viewed by some as resulting in higher density housing that lacks the amenities required to be a true neighborhood. A revision of the small lot

North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan

development requirements and provisions may be necessary in order to incorporate greater flexibility and encourage the inclusion of more amenities in these residential developments.

Issue 2

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Higher density development offers opportunities for attainable housing.

Housing Variety, Including Affordable/Attainable Housing

Development of a future Land Use Plan entails looking at the balance of housing types within the city. Historically, North Las Vegas has had a greater share of the valley’s affordable housing than any other neighboring city. Some see it as having a disproportionately high share and would like to promote more move-up housing. Escalating housing costs point to an increasing need for additional affordable housing in the future, including workforce housing, starter homes, and senior housing. The new land use plan will examine how best to accommodate a healthy range of housing types. Grant opportunities and strategic public-private-non-profit partnership options could then be examined to assist with achieving certain housing goals. The Southern Nevada Planning Coalition has created a committee to address the affordable/attainable housing issue on a regional basis. The city will play a key role in this regional process.

Appendix C: Planning Issues and Opportunities

Employment and Jobs

Issue 1

Business Attraction and Retention Strategies

The plan update is an opportunity to address the city's goal to continue to diversify its economy and avoid becoming a bedroom community. The Cheyenne Technology Corridor has proven to be a successful economic strategy for the city, but some members of the development community would like to broaden economic development strategies into other areas. The plan update process will help clarify what economic development issues and strategies hold the most promise for achieving long term goals and economic vitality. As part of this discussion, the city will look at what a healthy overall Housing-Jobs Balance would be for the city.

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New industrial development along the Cheyenne Corridor.

Issue 2

Safeguarding the Industrial Land Supply

The current market favors residential development, resulting in a trend of converting vacant industrial land to residential uses. Economic development proponents are concerned about “holding the line” on an industrial (or non-residential) land reserve before too much land is converted to residential uses. In particular, the industrial areas east of Interstate 15 and around Nellis Air Force Base have been recommended as areas that should be reserved for industrial uses. The planning process will explore which current industrial areas are viable, how much future industrial land will be necessary, and where future industrial lands should be reserved.

Issue 3

Locating a Regional Commercial “Power Center” in NLV

Currently North Las Vegas lacks a regional commercial center. The Visioning 2025 document promotes the creation of a regional commercial “power center” to make the city more competitive with its neighbors. The plan update will explore possible alternative locations for this type of commercial activity along with the locational needs of a successful power center.

City Identity and Image

Issue 1

The City Lacks Distinctive Gateways and Public Centers

Signature gateways, particularly at major points of entry into the city such as I-15 interchanges, are stressed in the “Visioning 2025” document and by public and private individuals, as a way to help define a sense of place within North Las Vegas. The 1999 Comprehensive Plan does not address public spaces such as gateways, street corridors, civic centers, and other “public” areas. This plan update will suggest improvements to the public realm.

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Current gateways into the city do not create a strong sense of entry.

Issue 2

The Downtown Does Not Serve as a Recognizable Core for the City

The Downtown represents a major opportunity for North Las Vegas to define its identity through quality design in redevelopment projects and to pursue its goals of having an active city center offering a mix of residential, business, civic, dining, and entertainment options. The city may relocate its Civic Complex to a more visible location which would help establish and define the Downtown. This area is home to many Hispanic residents and businesses, a unique quality that the city could build upon to create a unique and attractive district within the city. The plan update will help set direction and policies for the redevelopment and enhancement of this area.

Issue 3

North Las Vegas is Fragmented into Several Distinct Geographic Areas

The city is a spread-out community that has evolved over time into what appears to be three different residential sections of the city with different socio-economic, development styles, and needs: the older areas to the south tend to be higher density and include the downtown; the midwestern section includes most of the MPCs dating from the 1980s and 1990s, and the northern section contains recent MPCs such as Aliante and the BLM release lands which will be the site of future development. Each section has differences in demographics, amenities, character, and built environment. In addition, the industrial corridor composes another distinct part of the city, and one that effectively separates the southern residential section from the other two. The plan update will consider ways to create a unified sense of community within North Las Vegas.

Appendix C: Planning Issues and Opportunities

Transportation and Circulation

Issue 1

The Current Streets System is Disconnected

The city is experiencing many of the debates about connectivity that are occurring valley-wide relating to street orientation, the impact of walled and gated communities on community connectivity, local street connections, pedestrian access and amenities between residential and commercial areas, and other issues surrounding the viability of multi-modal transportation. A specific prominent street issue within North Las Vegas is the predominance of “sawtooth” roads and the visual and functional disconnection they create. Currently, developers are required to improve only half a street, or the portion that is on the property, resulting in unfinished streets all over the city that cause traffic safety, congestion, and flooding problems. Another issue the plan update may wish to address is how to reconcile the grid street requirement for major arterials in the Master Transportation Plan with the more prominent pattern of meandering local streets in new developments.

The Vision 2025 plan sees the grid requirement as an important policy for creating a connected streets system. Important to the policies on transportation issues in the Plan is the fundamental relationship of land use to the transportation needs of the city along with the timing of these land use developments and the infrastructure needs of the city.

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A sawtooth road in northern North Las Vegas.

Issue 2

Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel Options are Very Limited

Current city street standards for collector and arterial rights-of-way do not provide for bicycle lanes or promote a particularly walkable city. The predominance of walled neighborhoods further impacts the level of pedestrian and bicycle connectivity between homes and services or public areas such as schools.

Issue 3

North 5th Mass Transit and Transit-Oriented Development

The North 5th Street Transit Supportive Concept Plan proposes the route and station areas for this planned transit corridor. The station areas along this transit line are envisioned as higher-density mixed-use areas in line with principles of Transit-Oriented Design (TOD). Mass transit projects are as one way in which the quality of life problems associated with traffic (congestion and air quality impacts) can be addressed. The Visioning 2025 document recommends that long term transportation planning identify potential transit locations.

Quality of Services

Issue 1

Community Services Keeping Pace with Growth

Community services, such as fire, police, health, education, utilities, libraries, and parks and recreation, need to be planned and expanded in line with the growth of the community to ensure both adequate supply and a high level of service. Schools have been impacted by the rapid growth and in turn have impacted neighborhoods. The Plan can address better school pre-planning, school site selection and design considerations for the city.

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Coordinating growth of services to keep pace with growth will be an important factor is safeguarding a high quality of life in the city.

Issue 2

Air Quality and Traffic Congestion

Air quality is a valley-wide issue. While North Las Vegas has enjoyed relatively good air quality compared to other communities in the valley, maintaining air quality as development increases will be a challenge. The Visioning 2025 document stresses the relationship of traffic congestion and air quality. This community good should be integrated into the overall land use, multi-modal connectivity, and transportation planning discussions and decision-making.

Transportation issues, particularly access and congestion, are considerable variables in the overall economic activity and quality-of-life within the city.

Appendix C: Planning Issues and Opportunities

Plan Format

Issue 1

Plan Flexibility and Predictability

The Comprehensive Plan is a document intended to provide guidance to residents, the city, and developers, as to where different types of development should occur. The current plan does not meet the needs of the community as a guide that can offer a certain amount of predictability in land use decision making. The market is dynamic and the plan rigid, which has caused some friction in implementation decision-making and has necessitated frequent amendments to the plan map. Few mechanisms are in place to ensure that the community implements the Comprehensive Plan. Some city staff and community representatives have expressed interest in structuring the updated plan to emphasize compatible form or character within an area rather than the more traditional use-based plan. Form or character based options will be explored as part of the update process.

Issue 2

User-Friendly Structure

North Las Vegas is a high-growth area — conditions change very quickly. The Comprehensive Plan needs to be made more responsive and user-friendly. The 1999 Comprehensive Plan is very data-intensive, containing over a hundred pages of charts and tables that are both cumbersome and out-of-date. The plan update will reorganize the plan to put the "inventory" information in an Appendix, where it can be available for reference purposes and regular updates. This will facilitate user access to the more pertinent goals, policies, and principles sections of the plan and make the plan more graphic and illustrated.

Issue 3

Aligning the Plan with the Visioning 2025 Strategic Plan Document

The plan will be updated to reflect the vision and goals established in the Visioning 2025 document. This update will also address how to better align the Land Use Plan and zoning maps.

Issue 4

Updating the Land Use Plan Map and Zoning Categories

Many members of the development community and city's staff explain that the zoning categories are too limiting for residential uses. For example, "R-1" allows single family development on 6,000-square foot lots; "R-2," "R-3" and "R-4" require attached units. The Small Lot Ordinance (currently under review for amendment) requires an 80 ac. minimum parcel size and will allow up to 5.8 du/ac max (or 2,700 square foot lots). The development community, however, does not think these lot sizes are small enough to make development projects economically feasible and that the 80 acre minimum restricts any real infill projects. Builders would like to see a category allowing 7 – 8 du/ac to accommodate single family, townhomes and mixed-use development at densities needed to make housing work in the current market. On the other hand, some community members express concern that the small lot subdivisions, that have typified higher density development in the valley and city, are not providing quality neighborhoods with amenities—they are just houses lacking neighborhood features. This plan update will address the categories and allowable densities for residential development with a focus on balancing flexibility with predictability.

North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan

Issue 5

Regional Policy Plan (RPP) Conformity

The plan update needs to address Regional Policy Plan (RPP) conformity. The city is demonstrating solid compliance with the RPP in a number of instances; it has worked with Clark County School District on school sites pre-planning and with utility agencies and railroads on planning rights of way. There are many other instances, however, where the city is not conforming except to cite goals from the Comprehensive Plan, such as in the areas of mixed-use and infill development and the relationship of land use to capital facilities.

APPENDIX D: CAPACITY ANALYSIS

The Future Land Use Plan map is the blueprint for how and where the community will grow and develop in the future. The land uses illustrated on this map represent not only land use patterns, but also corresponding population and job numbers that relate to the types and densities of uses. Early in the process, the planning team developed a "baseline" capacity analysis to understand, under current development patterns, the following three questions:

1. How much new development could occur?
2. How many residents and jobs would result from this new development?
3. How quickly would the city reach buildout, the point at which all the vacant lands in the city are developed?

This appendix presents the answers to these questions. The capacity analysis serves as the backdrop for the developing and evaluating alternative future growth scenarios and policies for the future.

Development Capacity Analysis

To determine the development capacity of the city, the planning team used current population, job, and land use information to form a base from which to work.

Population and Employment

US Census and building permit data estimate that 178,000 people reside in the city, occupying approximately 58,000 existing households. The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) estimates that 75,000 persons work in the city (i.e., jobs that are located within the city boundary). This is equal to a job to population ratio of slightly greater than 0.5, which closely parallels the overall average for the Las Vegas Valley.

Developable Lands

North Las Vegas contains a total of 52,786 acres within its corporate boundaries. Of these, 23,742 acres (45%) are developed, see Table E-1, and 29,044 acres (55%) are currently vacant. Of these vacant acres, 14,723 acres, or 48% of the total vacant lands, are under BLM jurisdiction.

WHERE ARE THESE VACANT LANDS LOCATED?

For the purposes of analysis, the city was subdivided into four quadrants, as illustrated in Figure E-1. While most of the vacant land is located in the north and east quadrants, it should be noted that the existing developed areas of the city (central and south) also contain significant amounts of vacant land (nearly 10,000 acres). Significant portions of the vacant land located in the south, however, are small parcels that current standards for redevelopment render difficult to develop. In the central quadrant, nearly half (2,614 acres) have tentative maps in place, reducing the share of available vacant land for future development in the central quadrant to 12.6 percent of the city’s total vacant land area.

North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan

Table D-1: Existing Developed Areas

Source: City of NLV parcel data, Clarion Associates, June 2005

Figure D-1: Quadrants Used for Vacant Lands Analysis

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Source: Clarion Associates, June 2005

Table D-2: Vacant Lands

Source: Clarion Associates, City of North Las Vegas parcel data, June 2005

D-2

Appendix D: Capacity Analysis

Table D-3: Status of Vacant Lands by Quadrant

Source: Clarion Associates, City of North Las Vegas parcel data, June 2005

Table D-4: Estimated Capacity of Planned New Development*

Source: Clarion Associates, June 2005 *Population estimates assume a constant average household size of 3.27 for single-family residences and 3.56 for multi-family residences and a gradual rise in dwellings per acre. from 4.5 to 8 for Single–Family Residential and from 16 to 20 for Multi-Family Residential over a 25-year period.

Table D-5: Estimated Total Capacity at Buildout**

Source: Clarion Associates, June 2005 ** For reasons of accuracy, acreage-based estimates were used only for future development, which were then added to current residential statistics.

Development Capacity Findings

What would the city look like if it were to build out in a manner similar to today’s development trends? New residential development on vacant lands within the city could accommodate an additional 270,219 persons in 79,935 new households (see Table E-4). Nearly 7,000 acres are slated for new non-residential development (commercial, industrial, and employment). While there is a considerable amount of land slated for new commercial development (2,868 acres), the city only contains approximately 1,800 acres of land for new industrial development and 2,469 acres of land for employment uses – roughly equivalent to the amount of land developed for those two uses today. An additional 4,800 acres of land that would be suitable for industrial uses is located along I-15, north and east of the Speedway. However, much of this land (1,280 acres) is under the jurisdiction of the Nevada National Guard, and all of it is located outside of the BLM Disposal Boundary. See Figure A-5: Capacity Analysis for Vacant Lands map located in Appendix A.

Under this land use pattern, at buildout the city would support a population of 444,219 persons residing in 137,935 households (see Table E-5), with more than 11,500 acres of land dedicated to non-residential uses . See Figure A-6: Capacity Analysis map located in the Appendix.

How long will it take the City to reach buildout?

The answer to this question depends on how fast growth occurs. The growth rate is a function of regional growth pressures, market considerations, availability and timing of BLM lands for release, and other factors. It is also likely that the city's residential areas will build out more quickly than its non-residential areas. To put this into perspective, here are several scenarios for consideration:

RAPID RATE

Assumption: City’s Growth Rate continues at 12 percent annually. For the past few years, the city has experienced rapid growth, approaching 12 percent annually. If that trend were to continue, the city would reach its buildout population by 2014 (less than 9 years).

FAST RATE

Assumption: City’s Growth Rate reduces to 7 percent annually. In recent months, the rate of growth has moderated somewhat due to market conditions and a reduction in the supply of land, but is still pacing at a rapid 7 percent annual growth rate. At a rate of 7 percent, the city would reach its buildout population by the year 2020.

MODERATE RATE

Assumption: City’s Growth Rate moderates further to 4 percent annually. If the city's growth rate stabilizes at 4 percent over the coming decades, the city would reach its buildout population by the year 2030.

How does this compare to the rest of the region?

According to RTC and Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition (SNRPC) projections, population in the Las Vegas valley is projected to grow by more than 1.1 million over the next 25 years, from 1.7 million today to more than 2.9 million by the year 2030, which represents an annualized growth rate of 2.2%. While other communities are projected to continue to grow significantly, North Las Vegas will experience the largest overall increase both in absolute numbers as well as in its share of the region's population. According to RTC projections, North Las Vegas

Appendix D: Capacity Analysis

will grow at an annualized rate of more than 4 percent; nearly double that of the rest of the region. While just over 10 percent of the region's population resides in North Las Vegas today, that is projected to grow to almost 17 percent by the year 2030.

Why is North Las Vegas projected to experience so much growth? The primary factor is the amount of BLM release land that is located in the city, combined with the relative scarcity of new land in other communities in the Valley. Of course, if more land were to become available in other areas, the projections for North Las Vegas could change as a result.

North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan

APPENDIX E: PLAN AND POLICY SUMMARY

This appendix provides a summary of the various plan documents that currently influence or regulate community planning and land use decisions in the City of North Las Vegas. It is intended to provide brief overview information on the contents of key documents to assist the Citizen’s Focus Group, Planning Commission, and city and project staff in updating the Comprehensive Plan. Readers are encouraged to refer to the actual documents if additional detailed information is needed or required.

Land Use Plans

“Visioning 2025” Strategic Plan (2005)

The Visioning 2025 Strategic Plan document provides a concise listing of key visions and strategies for the city to pursue in the next 20 years. The result of a collaborative effort between the City Manager, city staff, City Council, and the community, this plan provides a framework for the Comprehensive Plan update in the following areas of land use:

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

• Create residential areas that are of “villages and neighborhoods”, places that have a distinct character and well-integrated residential and commercial uses.
• Redevelop older or underutilized areas and promote infill development within existing areas.
• Develop higher-density and mixed-use areas as means of meeting entry level housing needs. This type of development should be incorporated into older and existing redevelopment and infill areas, including the downtown. Public-private-non-profit

partnerships are a means of promoting increased homeownership and achieving affordable housing goals.

• Create design standards as a means of ensuring distinct and quality development.

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MIXED-USE AND NODAL DEVELOPMENT

• Change zoning and permitting to promote mixed-use and higher-density development in certain areas.
• Emphasize mixed-use and commercial nodes to help ensure a balanced distribution of commercial activity to meet the needs of neighborhoods citywide.
• Plan and develop appropriate transportation and greenway connections to create multi-modal connectivity and visual appeal within

centers and higher-density mixed use nodes.

• Integrate neighborhood activity nodes that are pedestrian-friendly with streets improved to facilitate access and circulation to and within these areas.

DESTINATION COMMERCIAL CENTERS

• Develop a large regional commercial center that is both easily accessible via the transportation system and well-integrated into nearby residential areas in design and services offered.

INDUSTRIAL LAND

• Promote industrial development, including business and research parks, particularly for areas where other types of development are less suitable (e.g. lands in close proximity to Nellis AFB and flight path).

PIVOTAL CENTERS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT

• Focus development and redevelopment in five “pivotal centers”: the downtown, the northern development area, industrial areas, the technology corridor between the Community College and NLV Airport, and the Craig Road/Camino al Norte area. Create a master plan for each area.
• Redevelop the Downtown with a focus on beautification programs, additional community amenities (including a park and recreation center), increased densification and mixed-use, consistent signage and aesthetics, a downtown marketing plan, and anchor tenant attraction efforts.
• Promote business research employment activity in the northern development area, which includes

the proposed UNLV campus and new Veterans Administration hospital. Development of this large opportunity area should incorporate higher-density mixed-use entertainment areas, particularly along the North 5th transit corridor and Northern Beltway.

In addition to these future land use goals and recommendations, the document contains a number of suggestions for improving the transportation system, safeguarding the future water supply and air quality, planning community facilities and services, supply of parks and recreation amenities, economic development strategies, and fostering positive community image, identity and increased civic involvement.

City of North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan (1999)

The Comprehensive Plan for the City of North Las Vegas establishes the goals, policies and future land use plan for the city. This plan is divided into two principal sections. The first half of the plan provides detailed current and historical data on the city in the following areas: history and location, socio-economic profile, current land use and zoning information, transportation, employment and economic activity, housing, municipal facilities including parks, schools and government services, and public utilities. After establishing past and current information in each of these areas, the plan provides vision statements, goals, objectives and policies for the city in the following areas:

LAND USE PLAN

• The Land Use Plan map includes five residential categories, four commercial categories, two business/office categories, and two industrial categories. No mixed-use land use category is included in the plan.

Appendix E: Plan and Policy Summary

• Under this land use plan, the city would accommodate 334,490 residents at buildout.
• The non-residential land use mix would include 30.9 million sq. ft. of commercial space, 81.5 million sq. ft. of office/business park space, and 77.2 million sq. ft. of industrial space. This could accommodate approximately 522,100 jobs.

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TRANSPORTATION

The plan identifies key streets and highway transportation issues including:

• A lack of north-south connectivity,
• Congestion,
• Poor street system connectivity, including the disruptions of inconsistent road widths and "saw-tooth" roads, and
• The need for designated truck routes.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The economic development elements of the plan are divided into three geographic areas:

• The existing urban area,
• The industrial/business park corridor, and
• Newly developing areas, including new infill development.

Existing Urban Areas These areas include the downtown, the Lake Mead area, North Las Vegas Boulevard and the Civic Center. The revitalization strategy for these areas include: increased commercial density, a comprehensive streetscape program, an expanded façade program, more flexibility in changes of use in the redevelopment area, a targeted market study, land assembly and demolition, a proactive code enforcement program, and community policing strategies.

Industrial Development The strategy for the Cheyenne Technology Corridor and Losee Road industrial corridor is to facilitate business park development, including around the NLV Air Terminal.

Newly Developing Areas The strategy for the north is to capture suburban residential development. Once a critical mass of residences develops, commercial activity will follow. Retail centers are advocated over commercial strips, and could be aggregated into regional centers.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

The Plan also included elements for municipal facilities planning, public utility provision and a conservation plan, which included water conservation planning and air quality management.

North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan

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Cost of Land Use Study (Tischler & Associates, 2004)

This economic study, commissioned by the city in 2004, examines the fiscal impacts associated with various residential and non-residential types of development. The study evaluates the tax costs and benefits associated with a variety of residential (low and medium density single-family, townhomes, and multi-family apartments) and non-residential (retail, office, warehouse, light industrial, business parks) land uses. Fiscal impacts for each land use were measured on a per unit basis for residential land uses and per 1,000 square feet for non-residential land uses. Of the land uses studied, only multi-family apartments and retail uses were found to yield a negative net surplus for the city. High-end business parks offered the greatest fiscal benefit, followed by light industrial uses. Retail, despite generating the most revenue, resulted in the greatest net fiscal losses of any use category.

Table E-1: Fiscal Impacts of Land Use

Source: Cost of Land Use Study, Tischler and Associates, 2004

Appendix E: Plan and Policy Summary

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Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update (Poggemeyer, 2004)

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan provides a complete inventory and analysis of existing parks and facilities. The report includes a level-of service analysis for local, neighborhood, community, and regional parks for residents of North Las Vegas and makes recommendations for new park and recreation facilities. Key findings of the plan update include:

• The total city park acreage ratio, at 2.51 aces per 1,000 residents, is less than half the locally-adjusted national standard of 7.5 acres/1000 residents.
• Level-of-Service (LOS) analysis indicates citywide shortfalls in neighborhood, community, regional, and linear parks as well as community recreation facilities.
• A study of sports fields indicates either a current or future deficit of all types of sports fields in the city.
• A community survey indicates existing demand for skate parks, a new sports complex to serve northern residents, children's playgrounds, community and multi-generational centers, community swimming pools/aquatic centers, and

community amphitheaters, perhaps as part of a regional park.

• Under the selected parks and recreation development plan, the city would still retain the following parkland deficits in 2010: -318 acres of neighborhood and community parks, - 1000+ acres regional parkland, and - 50 miles of linear parkland. The LOS for special use recreational facilities, however, would be considerably improved.
• The plan recommends the city conduct ongoing deficiency assessment and improvements and seeks out ways of overcoming financing challenges.

Redevelopment Plans

Redevelopment Plan for the North Redevelopment Area (1999)

This plan establishes seven goals and objectives for the city's Redevelopment Agency to pursue in the North Redevelopment Area, predominantly located just north of downtown along Cheyenne and North Las Vegas Boulevards. The area was selected as a redevelopment area based upon observable deferred maintenance of residential units and blighted conditions along the commercial strips including vacant and marginal uses that contributed to a "hop scotch" pattern of development along the strips. The goals and objectives are as follows:

• Eliminate and prevent blight through conservation, rehabilitation and redevelopment;
• Achieve and urban environment that reflects attention to architectural, landscape, and urban design principles;
• Guide revitalization activities so as to reduce unplanned growth and to better meet the needs of residents and the City;
• Work with land and business owners as well as other agencies to retain existing businesses as redevelopment occurs;
• Encourage private-sector investment into the area by identifying and eliminating impediments to development;
• Encourage broad stakeholder participation in redevelopment activities, including residents, business owners, property owners, and community organizations;
• Replan, redesign and develop stagnant or improperly used areas.

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Redevelopment activities proposed to achieve these objectives included property acquisition, demolition, management, disposition, and rehabilitation.

Appendix E: Plan and Policy Summary

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North Las Vegas Final Downtown Redevelopment Plan (1990)

The Downtown Redevelopment area is located along North Las Vegas Boulevard, between Carey and Owens Avenues, and east along Lake Mead Boulevard terminating at Pecos Road. This plan prioritizes redevelopment activities in accordance with the goals established in the NLV Comprehensive Plan, namely: to intensify casino/hotel/entertainment and retail/service activities in the downtown, develop high-density residential areas as buffers between stable neighborhoods and commercial districts, and implement a comprehensive streetscape program. The particular delineation of the redevelopment area was determined based on observed blighted conditions. Through this plan, the city defines 14 objectives for the redevelopment of the downtown area:

• Eliminate environmental deficiencies such as blighted buildings, irregular lots, deteriorated public improvements, inadequate parking facilities, and poor land utilization;
• Assemble land into parcels suitable for modern, integrated development and improved vehicular and pedestrian circulation;
• Replan, redesign and develop vacant or improperly used properties;
• Strengthen the retail, office, commercial, and residential functions of downtown;
• Strengthen and diversify the downtown economic base;
• Provide adequate parking and open spaces;
• Establish and implement performance criteria to assure high site design standards to provide unity and integrity;
• Minimize conflict between pedestrian and vehicular traffic and improve transportation efficiency;
• Promote orderly development in the Redevelopment Area;
• Rehabilitate and preserve historic and architecturally significant structures and sties;
• Provide a more balanced and diverse live-work social and economic environment;
• Upgrade the overall quality of life in the Redevelopment Area.

Transportation

North Fifth Street Transit Supportive Concept Plan

The North Fifth Street Transit Supportive Concept Plan establishes the a broad transit oriented development strategy for the city as part of the larger Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) effort to examine the feasibility of a Regional Fixed Guideway system within the valley. The plan organizes the transit corridor into five planning districts:

• University District,
• Deer Springs District,
• North Fifth Street District,
• Industrial District, and
• Gateway Redevelopment District.

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The plan proposes a form-based transit strategy organized around a core-center-edge approach, with the highest densities of each station area located within 600 feet of the transit station. The plan does not treat each station area uniformly, but recognize the different use mix and function of the five areas. Detailed plans for each station area are not provided; rather, a brief overview and density range are provided for each district with the recommendation that a detailed master plan be created for each station area. The plan does provide a number of recommendations for design and implementation of the transit oriented development strategy. Implementation recommendations include:

• Adopt the Fifth Street Corridor TSCP,
• Refine District transportation Design Concepts,
• Redefine Parking Standards,
• Adopt the TOD Code Recommendations,
• Create a Capital Improvements and Finance Plan,
• Forge Public-Private Partnerships,
• Develop a Transit Strategy,
• Monitor the Effects, and
• Follow a Phasing Plan.

Appendix E: Plan and Policy Summary

Regional Plans

Southern Nevada Regional Policy Plan

The Southern Nevada Regional Policy Plan was commissioned by the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition (SNRPC) to help the municipalities within the Las Vegas Valley address issues associated with its fast rate of growth on a regional level. The guidelines established within the Plan are to be implemented by the following jurisdictions and agencies: Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, Clark County, the Clark County School District, regional and state agencies, and public utilities.

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The Plan specifies a number of specific recommendations for regional initiatives and development standards organized within seven plan elements:

• Conservation, Open Space, and Natural Resource Protection,
• Population Forecast,
• Land Use,
• Transportation,
• Public Facilities,
• Air Quality, and
• Infill Development.
• Conservation, Open Space, and Natural Resource Protection

REGIONAL INITIATIVES

• Establish a regional trails and open space plan with a regional funding base and encourage local governments to develop complementary local trails plans.
• Adopt a standard definition of parks and open space in each jurisdiction to facilitate regional parks planning.
• Target Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act funding to address areas with the most significant parks trails and open space needs.

North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan

APPENDIX F: PLAN CONFORMITY

Relationship of Comprehensive Master Plan to Southern Nevada Regional Policy Plan

In February 2001, the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition adopted the Southern Nevada Regional Policy Plan. This was done under Nevada Statutes which both created the Regional Planning Coalition and mandated the creation of a Regional Policy Plan. The City of North Las Vegas, as a member of the Regional Planning Coalition (RPC), was an active participant in that planning process; City Council joined the other municipalities in the Valley, as well as Clark County and the Clark County School District, in endorsing the Regional Policy Plan.

Another mandate of the Nevada Regional Planning Statutes required each governing body submit to the RPC all master plans, facility plans and other similar plans for a determination as to whether they were in "substantial conformance" with the Southern Nevada Regional Policy Plan. Following adoption of the Regional Policy Plan in 2001, the City of North Las Vegas worked with the RPC to assess conformity between its plans and the Regional Policy Plan. The conclusion of that process was an agreement that summarized the ways in which the City was acting in furtherance of the Plan and set out actions that the City agreed to take to achieve further conformity.

This Comprehensive Master Plan was prepared with that Conformity Agreement in mind. While the Comprehensive Master Plan is intended to achieve a broad range of community goals and objectives based on a broad base of community involvement and planning history, the achievement of further conformity with the Southern Nevada Regional Policy Plan was among those objectives. The purpose of this Appendix is to summarize the substantial ways in which the Comprehensive Master Plan furthers the actions agreed upon by the City to achieve further conformity with the Regional Policy Plan.

The actions that the city agreed to were divided in the Conformity Agreement into two sections. The first section focused upon those policies in the Regional Policy Plan that require a collaborative regional approach. In these cases, the City agreed to work in a cooperative fashion with the RPC and other jurisdictions to facilitate achieving those regional policies. These are policies the City cannot achieve alone; on the other hand, those policies are reinforced through this Comprehensive Master Plan. The second section of the Conformity Agreement includes more specific steps on the City's part to bring the plans and policies into conformity with the Regional Policy Plan.

Each of the sections is addressed below. This assessment begins with the action language as stated in the Conformity Agreement, followed by commentary as to how the Comprehensive Master Plan helps to support or further this action.

Actions Agreed Upon by the City to Achieve or Further Conformity with the Plans

1. Creation of a regional trail plan with a regional funding base.

   Commentary: The Comprehensive Master Plan contains policies that reinforce the intent of the City to coordinate with other jurisdictions on the development of regional trails and the creation of a Regional Trail Parks and Open Space Standards (Policy 7.4-2 and Policy 7.4-3). In addition, the Regional Trail Plans are reflected on Plan Maps of the Comprehensive Master Plan (Figure A-1: Parks and Recreation and Figure A-8: Parks and Bike Trails).

   While North Las Vegas will continue to support a regional funding base, regional funding is beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan.

2. Development of a standard definition of parks and open space.

   Commentary: The Comprehensive Master Plan contains multiple policies designed to promote improved parks and open spaces, and specifically reinforces the need to coordinate with other jurisdictions to develop regional standards for Regional Parks, Trails and Open Space (Policy 7.4-3). The Plan also includes a policy designed to encourage a parks and recreation system that meets or exceeds national averages for level of service (Policy 7.2-2). The City will be updating its Parks and Recreation Master Plan in 2007, further enhancing these efforts.

3. Encouragement of a change in the BLM funding criteria for the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act special account to address areas with the most significant parks and open space needs.

   Commentary: Not applicable – specified action is beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan.

4. Establishment of a uniform residential construction tax set at the maximum level allowed by law.

   Commentary: Not applicable – specified action is beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan.

5. Development of model uniform standards for sensitive land protection.

   Commentary: The Comprehensive Master Plan emphasizes the identification and protection of key natural resource and open land areas in its goals and policies (Goal 7.4 and supporting policies). This includes the development of regional standards (Policy 7.4-3). In addition, the Land Use Plan (Figure 4-1) includes substantial open space to be preserved as part of the northern master planned communities in furtherance of conservation objectives.

6. Identification of future outlying growth areas.

   Commentary: This Regional Plan policy addressed growth beyond the boundaries of the metropolitan area in the Las Vegas Valley, such as growth in the direction of Parump. Thus, this Regional Plan policy is beyond the scope of the North Las Vegas Comprehensive Master Plan.

However, this Plan gives substantial attention to encouraging land use patterns in the northern growth areas of the City that are consistent with the policies of the Regional Policy Plan (i.e., mixed use, pedestrian oriented design around mass transit corridors). To the extent that the northern reaches of North Las Vegas represent the northernmost boundary of this part of the metropolitan area, this Plan is supportive of the spirit of this Regional Plan policy.

7. Identification of opportunities and incentives to develop multi-jurisdictional review standards and joint City/County plans for influence areas around each incorporated area.

   Commentary: Not applicable – specified action is beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan.

8. Development of a regional land demand and land capacity database, integrated with a regional geographic information system database, and related sharing and maintenance of data.

   Commentary: This action is generally beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan. However, the Comprehensive Master Plan was based on a land demand and land capacity analysis utilizing the City's GIS system. At the time that a regional land demand and land capacity database is organized in furtherance of this Regional Plan policy in the future, the North Las Vegas Plan and its supporting land use analysis and projections could be incorporated into that regional model.

9. Development of a coordinated and integrated regional transportation and air quality plan and related regional models.

   Commentary: The Comprehensive Master Plan establishes a number of guiding principles, goals and policies emphasizing multi-modal transportation throughout the City, with a connected system of pedestrian, bicycle, automobile, and bus transit routes and corridors. The development of this system specifically calls for regional coordination with the Regional Transportation Coalition (RTC) (Goal 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and supporting policies). In addition, the Plan specifically calls for the development of transportation modeling capacity in the City that is compatible with the RTC transportation modeling (Policy 3.3-1). Development of such a model has already begun.

10. Development of a regional “intelligent transportation system”.

    Commentary: While the specified action is beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan, the Comprehensive Master Plan establishes a number of guiding principles, goals and policies emphasizing multi-modal transportation throughout the City – with a connected system of pedestrian, bicycle, automobile and bus transit routes and corridors. The development of this system specifically calls for coordination with the Regional Transportation Coalition (RTC).

11. Drafting of model local transportation demand and access control regulations.

    Commentary: Not applicable – specified action is beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan.

North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan

12. Development of an objective validation process for the prioritization and expenditure of street and highway funds, consistent local street construction timing and phasing standards, and a more effective system of coordination of road construction activities to the public.

Commentary: The Comprehensive Master Plan establishes goals and policies for the City to better synchronize roadway construction and planning with development (Goal 3.3). Any regional efforts to generate timing and phasing standards would assist in the implementation of this goal and be supported by this Plan.

13. Development of baseline level of service standards and definitions for key regional public facilities.

Commentary: This action is generally beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan in that it deals with regional facilities. However, this Plan helps to lay the groundwork for establishing those regional standards by calling for coordination with regional planning efforts and by recognizing the importance of level of service standards (see, for example, Policy 7.2-2 and Policy 7.4-3).

14. Establishment of a consistent format for capital improvement plans so that regional needs can be more easily and consistently identified.

Commentary: This action is generally beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan. However, the Comprehensive Master Plan helps to lay the groundwork for this action. For example, this Plan encourages a higher degree of coordination between capital improvement planning (CIP) and land use planning. This Plan establishes goals and procedures to better coordinate the planning and development activities with the CIP process (Goal 10.1 and Policy 10.1-1). The Plan also calls for an annual plan review process with specific benchmarks for review.

15. Creation of a standardized cost sharing, recovery, and recoupment methodology.

Commentary: Not applicable – specified action is beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan.

16. Convening of an inter-jurisdictional planning committee to improve the process for identifying school sites.

Commentary: This action is generally beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan in that it calls for inter-jurisdictional action. However, this Plan is supportive of this Regional Plan policy in that it calls for better coordination with the Clark County School District and developers on the planning and maintenance of school facilities within the City (Policy 7.1-1).

17. Development of a regional plan to address the issue of homelessness.

Commentary: Not applicable – specified action is beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan.

18. Identification and implementation of methods of improving air quality planning, monitoring, regulation, and funding of air quality programs.

Commentary: While the specified

action is generally beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan, the City does reinforce its continued commitment to working regionally on matters of air quality. This Plan endorses improved public education of air quality issues; local, state, and national air quality compliance; energy efficiency; reduced vehicle miles traveled; and local air quality ordinances (Goal 7.6 and related policies).

19. Establishment of a common definition of infill, the design of infill incentive programs, and the encouragement of State and Federal funding priorities for infill.

Commentary: This Regional Plan policy is generally beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Master Plan, although the Plan does lay groundwork for this Regional Plan policy by placing a strong emphasis on infill development. The Plan creates an environment for infill development, including the creation of three different mixed use categories and the policy of residential density bonuses to be implemented as a high priority immediately following the Comprehensive Master Plan. The Plan also calls for substantial compatible infill in the downtown area. In addition, the Plan calls for the development of additional infill policies, promotion of contiguous development, establishment of design guidelines for infill development and the establishment of the additional redevelopment areas within the City (Goal 5.4, Policies 5.4-1 through 5.4- 4).

The following are additional specific steps that the City agreed to pursue to achieve or further conformities with the Plan:

1. The City will examine implementing standard definitions of parks and open space through its zoning ordinance.

Commentary: This action would normally be addressed in land use regulations, although the Comprehensive Master Plan implementation action plan does call for the establishment of standard definitions of parks and open space (Chapter 7, Land Use Action Item 1).

In addition, the Plan reinforces the need for developing regional standards and plans for regional parks, trails and open space through a coordinated effort with other jurisdictions (Policy 7.4-3). Finally, the City is initiating an update of its Parks and Recreation Master Plan in 2007, as well as a comprehensive update of its development regulations.

2. The City will continue to target BLM funds for park development in urban areas to promote infill development.

Commentary: The Plan calls for coordination with developers to create parks, recreation facilities, cultural facilities and connective greenways with development in both new and mature areas of the City (Policy 7.2-4).

While the use of BLM funds is beyond the scope of this Comprehensive Master Plan, the Plan is supportive of this Regional Plan policy.

In addition, the Plan includes principles of design for transit oriented development that includes the incorporation of public spaces and greenways into the design of development around transit stops (Chapter 5 Transit Oriented Development Principles of Design).

North Las Vegas Comprehensive Plan

3. The City will explore policies and zoning regulations that require new subdivisions to maintain historic access to public lands.

   Commentary: The Plan includes a policy supportive of the City working with developers to incorporate areas of connective open space and trail corridors in developments, with the provision that the open space and trails should link into or extend City-wide or regional networks (Policy 7.4-4).

4. The City will consider adoption of sensitive land protection standards that are developed pursuant to the Regional Policy Plan.

   Commentary: The Comprehensive Master Plan strongly supports conservation and resource protection. It calls for the City to collaborate with other organizations to conserve key areas of open space and establish trail corridors on a City and regional level. It also calls for collaboration with federal, non-profit and private entities to conserve key natural resource and culturally significant areas within the City (Goal 7.4 and Policy 7.4-1).

5. The City will work to further the multi-use flood control facility policy by addressing right-of-way needs in excess of those needed simply for flood control, and through considering the retrofitting of existing facilities.

   Commentary: The Comprehensive Master Plan endorses the importance of the multiple uses of flood-control facilities (Goal 7.7 and supporting policies).

6. The City will review utility corridors for potential recreational uses as part of its new parks and trails plan.

   Commentary: The city has begun to implement the use of utility corridors for potential recreational uses. A large utility easement along Grand Teton will be used as a passive and active recreational area for the residents in the city’s newest master planned community. The Parks Department will be developing a new Master Plan for the city’s parks and trails in which the appropriate utility corridors will be identified for recreational purposes.

7. The City will review, examine and implement recommendations of the Alternate Mode Transportation Study to encourage the use of alternate modes of transportation.

   Commentary: There are numerous goals and proposed land use patterns in this Plan that are supportive of multi-modal transportation, and numerous policies that explicitly promote multi-modal transportation. The Plan calls generally for a balanced land use mix, mixed use neighborhoods, commercial centers on transit lines, and transit oriented developments. It specifically promotes multi-modal transportation, including connected systems of trails and sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle amenities, pedestrian oriented designs, advanced planning for transit, mixed use transit stops, and transit oriented design of station areas. It also is supportive of the North Fifth Street Transit Supportive Concept Plan (see generally Guiding Principles 2 and 3, along with supporting goals and policies). Finally, the Plan explicitly endorses "Smart Growth" principles which recognize the importance of a variety of viable transportation choices.

Appendix F: Plan Conformity

8. The City will promote mixed-use developments and better job-to-housing balance in new master planned communities.

Commentary: One of the foundation principles of the Comprehensive Master Plan is a balanced mix of land uses, including mixed use villages and neighborhoods, commercial centers, and mixed use employment centers. There are three distinct land use categories on the land use map (Figure 4-1) including mixed use neighborhoods, mixed use commercial, and mixed use employment. There are substantial geographic areas that receive these designations on the future land use map. In addition, the Plan specifically calls for the achievement of a balanced mix of land uses to ensure that jobs, goods and services needed by its residents are available within the City. It also calls for a balanced mix of commercial, industrial and recreational opportunities to contribute to the quality of life of the community in the long term (Goal 4.1 and Policy 4.1-1).

9. The City will continue with the design of a Transportation Impact Fee Assessment Program based on a land use analysis process.

Commentary: The city has completed a Transportation Impact Fee Assessment program based on a land use analysis process.

10. The City will improve the coordination between its capital improvement plan and its land use plan and better integrate local standards with regional standards developed pursuant to the Regional Policy Plan.

Commentary: The Plan includes goals and policies that call for the coordination of capital facility planning with growth and development decisions (Goal 10.1); increased communication and cooperation between various City departments (Policy 10.1-1); and an annual plan implementation assessment report (to be completed each year prior to the establishment of the Capital Improvement Plan) (see generally Chapter 9).

11. The City will explore ways to improve infill development, including the waiver of sewer and water connections, reduced fees for permits, the pursuit of capital resources to acquire and develop property, exploring partnerships with non profit groups, encouraging innovative design, and continued public investment in streetscape improvements in infill areas.

Commentary: As indicated above, the Plan contains numerous policies supportive of infill development, promotion of contiguous development, establishment of design guidelines for infill development, and the establishment of additional redevelopment areas in the City (Goal 5.4 and Policies 5.4-1 through 5.4-4).

The Comprehensive Master Plan emphasizes infill development around identified Activity Centers, including Downtown, North Fifth Corridor, Northern Development Areas, and the Cheyenne Technology Corridor.

The Plan also creates principles of design for mixed use development and transit oriented development. These principles are reinforced through the Development Evaluation Checklist contained within Chapter 9. This chapter also contains a checklist for infill development which stresses the

compatibility of use and character of infill projects to surrounding existing development.

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