Public comments press Nye County on Binion Ranch zoning and Pahrump town-board petition

Public comment at the Nov. 4 Nye County meeting featured repeated requests to place a town-board question on the ballot in Pahrump and criticism of recent zoning decisions affecting the Binion Ranch property.

Tom Waters, leading a petition effort, said volunteers are collecting signatures to let residents vote on whether to re-create a town board. "All we're saying is we want people to be able to vote," Waters said, urging opponents of a town board to sign the petition so they can vote "no."

Several speakers raised concerns about the Binion Ranch zoning change, asking whether the change would worsen pressure on the county's sole aquifer and public services. Caller Dody Reddington, referencing a local news story, asked why a zone change was being debated without clarity on whether the project would raise taxes for other property owners and urged the county to place a zoning request for utility-challenged lots on an agenda to promote affordable housing and infrastructure funding.

Lorraine Gilbert told the Board she was skeptical the development (which public commenters said is planned to include both single- and multi-family units and commercial square footage) could be supported by existing roads, law enforcement and rescue services. Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and discussed infrastructure, past decisions not to acquire local water systems, and the role of alternative utilities in enabling development on "utility-challenged" lots.

The Board did not take an immediate action on the town-board petitions or rezoning during the public-comment segment; petition organizers said they will continue signature gathering to qualify a ballot question and asked for the matter to appear on a future agenda.