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.

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Variety of Design

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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.

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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