Las Vegas 2D Clark County commissioners on July 16 adopted a resolution creating a new single-family land-use category, "suburban estate neighborhood," to serve as a middle option between ranch-estate and low-intensity suburban neighborhoods. The new category allows up to 3.5 dwelling units per acre and identifies conforming zones including RS-80, RS-40, RS-20 and RS-10.

Commissioner Becker introduced the new designation, praising staff for moving the change quickly. "This is gonna be so helpful to people in the community ... and will allow us a little bit more flexibility," Becker said. The board approved the master-plan amendment in a single motion.

Shortly after adopting the new category, commissioners considered its first application: a 1.82-acre Lone Mountain parcel where the owner, represented by Brandon Figueroa, sought to redesignate and rezone the land to permit four single-family homes. Residents and the applicant said the density and design were compatible with surrounding development and would act as a buffer near Centennial High School.

Nut graf: The county created a new 3.5-du/acre residential land-use category and immediately applied it to the Lone Mountain site, where commissioners approved a plan amendment and zone change that the applicant said will allow the owner to build four houses for family use.

Speakers at the hearing included neighboring residents who supported the lower-density 3.5-du/acre option as preferable to the previously available "suburban" category with five units per acre. After public comment, Commissioner Becker moved to approve the plan amendment and rezone to RS-10 consistent with the new suburban-estate designation; the motion passed.

Ending: The new land-use category gives planners and neighborhoods a narrower middle option between rural estate and denser suburban zoning; commissioners signaled they will consider future applications under the 3.5-du/acre standard on a case-by-case basis.