Commission backs Merideck LLC plan to reduce residential density, recommend county review

The Elko County Planning Commission voted to recommend application MPA25-001 from Merideck LLC, an amendment to the Spring Creek master plan that would change certain parcels from commercial and higher-density residential designations to agricultural residential (AR).

Staff (Corey) told the commission that “this amendment to the master plan will actually be reducing the densities in that area from what potentially could be there now by the existing designations.” The change would require property owners, at the time of a change-of-zone request, to comply with applicable Nevada Revised Statutes and Elko County development code provisions. The commission voted to forward the recommendation, with staff conditions, to the county commissioners.

The applicant’s engineer, Bob Thiebaud of High Desert Engineering, said the developer intends to subdivide existing 40‑acre parcels into 10‑acre lots served by individual wells and septic systems: “They do plan on developing this as a 10 acre lots ... they just wanna divide each 40 ... into 10 acres.” Neighbors asked clarifying questions about a separately owned ‘boot’ parcel; staff confirmed the boot is not part of the current application and that some adjacent lands are federal BLM holdings and will remain separate.

The commission’s recommendation will go to the county commissioners, who will consider the amendment along with staff findings and any additional conditions recorded during zoning.