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Neighborhood group urges low-density plan, open-space protections for HEW site
Summary
Residents told the Nevada City Council they oppose high-density redevelopment of the 7.5-acre HEW parcel and asked the city to require single-family density, preserve steep Deer Creek acreage as open space, and bind density via a development agreement to protect neighborhood character.
Residents opposed to large-scale development of the former HEW site urged the Nevada City Council on July 24 to limit future housing density and protect adjacent open space.
Lori Overholtzer, speaking for the Nevada Street Willow Valley Neighborhood Association, said the group has reviewed seven developer proposals over 13 years and asked the council to require single-family density on the 7.5-acre flat parcel and to zone the 4.5 acres on Deer Creek for city open space. Overholtzer asked for a development agreement that caps the maximum unit count, compliance with the city’s affordable-housing requirements ("essentially 30% affordable housing, a mix of housing sizes, 20% ADUs"), and preservation of the most historic portions of the HEW buildings as a courtyard and community rooms.
Dr. Mark Ritchie, who said he and his wife Judy have bordered the HEW property for 27 years, described safety and quality-of-life concerns and recounted the site’s troubled history, including two murders in 2001 that he said led to Laura’s Law and left the building a stigma in the neighborhood. "I would rather that Nevada City was known for its gold rush history... and the wonderful natural beauty that we enjoy," Ritchie said, and added he favors tearing the building down rather than preserving it for the history he characterized as criminal.
The council did not take action on the public comments at the meeting; staff and council members acknowledged the arguments and said concerns would be referred to staff for follow-up or placed on a future agenda where appropriate. Several council members recommended careful environmental review, noting earlier environmental work and an existing Phase I/EA related to nearby sites, and asked staff to return with more information about potential hazards and mitigation needs.
What happens next: Councilmembers emphasized that comments made during public comment cannot be acted on immediately under Government Code section 54954.3; the council or staff can refer the matter to staff for future agenda placement or additional study. Residents said they will continue to participate in the review process and press for protections on density, design, and habitat buffers.
Sources: Public-comment remarks by Lori Overholtzer (Nevada Street Willow Valley Neighborhood Association), Dr. Mark Ritchie, and Judy Ritchie at the July 24, 2025 city council meeting.
