Planning commission approves first village design review and waivers for Blue Diamond Hill project

The Planning Commission approved design review and waiver requests for Village 1 of the Gypsum Resources development on Blue Diamond Hill, permitting modified street sections, extended cul-de-sac lengths and flexibility on retaining wall heights as part of a tentative tract map for the first village.

Ron Crater, representing Gypsum Resources, told the commission the tentative tract map covers approximately 830.74 acres and proposes 1,047 single-family lots for Village 1 under the approved development agreement and specific plan. Crater said the design waivers would allow longer cul-de-sacs for custom, single-loaded streets and retaining walls in rock-cut areas to reduce grading impacts.

The Red Rock Advisory Committee recommended approval, and staff recommended approval with conditions including right-turn-only ingress and left-turn-only egress at the Mine Hill Road/State Route 159 intersection and coordination between the developer, trail organizations and land management agencies on trail connectivity. Christine Prescott of the Southern Nevada Mountain Biking Association spoke in favor of the committee recommendations, asking the commission to include coordination with trail organizations as a condition.

Commissioners discussed the county’s limited jurisdiction over state highways and noted that access controls on SR 159 would be subject to the development agreement and traffic study and likely require coordination with state agencies. The commission approved both waiver and tentative map items; the motion recorded the requested condition that the developer work with trail organizations and land managers to coordinate trails within the development and surrounding planned trails.