Summit Edge Development presented a proposed master plan for 300 acres at Lander County’s Industrial Rail Park during the April 24 board meeting, proposing phased development, targeted tenants and a role as prime developer and manager for phase 1.

Sheldon Mudd, executive director of the Northeastern Nevada Regional Development Authority, introduced Summit Edge and its partners and asked the board to consider authorizing a development agreement process. "They took special interest in that as a potential developer out on the West Side of town," Mudd said. Summit Edge partner Taylor Bennett described a plan that would subdivide the site into smaller parcels to attract warehousing, cold storage, data centers and build‑to‑suit facilities, and said the group would help underwrite horizontal infrastructure and provide housing options to support workforce needs.

Bennett said the firm would coordinate utility and housing solutions and work with manufactured home providers and veteran placement programs to reduce friction in recruiting labor. He told the commissioners Summit Edge would pursue phased development and a long‑term partnership with the county.

Commissioners and county staff raised concerns about a single developer acting as a proprietary gatekeeper for the entire park. Commissioner comments emphasized county control of terms, the need for benchmarks and milestones in any development agreement, and the potential consequences for county services and housing. "What say does the county have in this?" a commissioner asked; Summit Edge replied that any development agreement would spell out county protections and rights of rescission.

County Engineer Aaron Martinez suggested the county could consider multiple developers working in parallel rather than a single gatekeeper, arguing that multiple participants would broaden the development mix and could accelerate buildout. Other speakers—including Julie Rich of local developer Framework Construction and Holly Priest of the Chamber of Commerce—said local developers can provide residential lots and urged collaborative planning between developers and the county to ensure infrastructure and housing capacity.

After public comment and extended discussion, commissioners agreed it was premature to grant a proprietary development agreement or to transfer land. The board directed staff to prepare a county master plan or a detailed set of county expectations and milestones and to return with clearer benchmarks and draft development‑agreement terms to evaluate. Summit Edge said it would work with county staff to refine a development agreement; the company clarified its current ask was to begin drafting a development agreement for phase 1 rather than obtain an immediate land conveyance.

No formal vote approving an exclusive development agreement occurred; commissioners instead asked staff to draft a county plan and bring a follow‑up to the board.