Ron Crater, a community planner and landscape architect representing the team behind Harmony at Golden Valley Ranch, presented an initial concept for the first phase of the Pravada property in South Golden Valley.

Crater said the overall Pravada specific plan comprises about 5,000 acres; the Harmony first phase is roughly 125 net acres (about 150 acres gross). He said the project was originally entitled in February 2008 with zoning and a development agreement and that the development agreement obligates the developer to construct and finance infrastructure—roads, water and wastewater systems and parks—rather than the county.

"A development agreement is a very important tool in regulating and controlling growth in an orderly and manageable way in the future," Crater told the commission during his presentation.

The team’s initial plan calls for about 363 lots in the first phase with lot sizes ranging from about 5,500 square feet up to roughly 13,500 square feet. Crater said market analysis by Zonda supports an initial focus on the active-adult market (typically age 55 and over) and that the presentation proposes a community core with a community building, multiuse lawn, courts (pickleball, bocce), community gardens and extensive trail connections.

Crater said the developer proposes drought-tolerant landscaping, water-conserving measures and a small on-site wastewater treatment system designed for high reuse: "Almost 100% of the water that goes through this processing facility can be reused for irrigation," he said. He also identified Nexus as the company proposed to build and operate on-site water and wastewater systems.

On density, Crater noted the property’s existing medium-density zoning allows up to 12 units per acre but said the first-phase concept would build at under three units per acre overall. Commissioners asked timing and compliance questions; Crater said he planned to begin submitting initial plans to county public works within the next month and, if everything proceeded, hoped to begin grading before the end of the year.

Commissioner questions focused on how the project would comply with newer county water-use ordinances and how the proposed density aligned with the existing general plan. County staff replied that the development agreement and the project’s entitlements would be reviewed relative to the county’s water-use ordinance and that the proposal presented was consistent with current general-plan designations and zoning.

Crater closed by saying the presentation was introductory and that the team planned community outreach with stakeholders before returning with final plans.

Provenance: Presentation and Q&A recorded in the meeting transcript where Ron Crater introduced the Harmony at Golden Valley Ranch concept and commissioners asked staff about water-ordinance compliance.