‘Urban access corridors’ an issue for county commission
By Brandy Nance
Originally published 01:51 p.m., February 28, 2008
Updated 01:51 p.m., February 28, 2008
A proposal by the Lyon County Planning and Appeals Board to change the definition of “Urban Access Corridors” in Lyon County was a hot topic Wednesday morning during the Lyon County Commission meeting.
Planners took up the issue during a meeting on Feb. 13. The proposal, which passed through the planning board 5-1, essentially would re-define where urban access corridors are in the county.
Planners have been working on the definition for a couple of years and came up with a more specific definition and presented it on Feb. 13. The original definition states that urban access corridors are within one mile of a paved road in Lyon County.
The new definition, which details urban access corridors in 16 defined road sections, cuts the area by 2/3, planners were told in the Feb. 13 meeting. However, planning board member Kevin Karr and some neighbors that will be effected by the proposed definition say that’s not enough. Karr said the proposed urban access corridors will encroach on agriculture operations. An urban access corridor allows for greater density of housing in certain areas by allowing more than one home on 40 acres.
“If you list it as an urban access corridor it has the potential to meet qualifications to be a residential district,” Karr told commissioners. “... I’d like to see this urban access corridor either reduced or possibly eliminated. This kind of sets up a target zone for development for me ... and I think the target is too big.”
Karr said the proposed definition of urban access corridors won’t help small towns either. He mentioned the “urban reserve area,” which is within one mile of any community in the county.
“That’s already in our code,” Karr said.
County Commissioner Bob Davis said tightening the area around small towns will help those small towns and schools more.
County Commission Chairman Scott Briggs said he is concerned with defining certain areas as urban access corridors.
“This looks to me that it’s going to tighten the noose a little tighter,” Briggs said. “If you consider that an urban access area it’s going to be a target to me.”
County commissioners suggested that Samuel Seeley, of Lyon County Zoning, study other counties that have dealt with “urban sprawl” and talk to leaders in small towns in Lyon County to get their input.
The application still will go to county commissioners next week.