Gardnerville board OKs Virginia Ranch first phase

A proposal for the first phase of Virginia Ranch, a planned development on 43.6 acres that will include105 homes, open space, an RV storage area and a school site, got the nod from Gardnerville's town board Tuesday.

Located just south of Toler and east of the proposed Muller Parkway in south Gardnerville, the plan includes traditional alleys and rear garages, pedestrian and open space connections and a variety of residential designs.

The project's street lighting will be consistent with Gardnerville's acorn-style street lights and black-fluted poles. The project has been annexed, meaning Gardnerville can capture tax revenues for the maintenance of streets.

Keith Ruben with R.O. Anderson Engineering described other features.

"Everyone will have a private courtyard," he said. "An easement exists on one side for painting walls, but there are no fences. These are rear-load alley units."

Owner Sierra Nevada SW Enterprises of Dayton will build a portion of Muller Parkway south of Toler Lane with this project, the first of three phases in this development.

About 140 homes were originally planned for phase one but the final count will be 105 units, due in part to the increase in lot size and a 100-foot buffer for the parkway, Ruben said.

Once known as the Jacobsen Ranch, the Virginia Ranch development encompasses a total of 226 acres, to be developed over time. The complete development includes 715 single-family homes on 134 acres, 305 multi-family townhomes on 54 acres, a school site, a 22-acre commercial area and the RV park.

"The overall cap for this project is 1,020 units," he said. "We contemplated 140 in the first phase, but that has been reduced to 105 and if that trend continues, we won't be close to 1,020 in this development."

Phase one is divided into three parts. Construction is slated to start this summer and the complete phase should be built by the fall of 2012.

Douglas County commissioners approved the Virginia Ranch specific plan in late 2004. The revised set must be approved by Douglas County commissioners before construction can begin.

In other business:

n Board members approved a $228,801 bid from Carlson Construction for paving projects on Toiyabe, Kittyhawk and Apollo avenues in Carson Valley Estates. An additional project on neighboring Antares was approved for $37,000 for paving overlay.

n A trash rates increase of $1.91 a month was approved for Gardnerville, the money needed to recoup the cost of escalating fuel prices and to ensure resources are on hand for future equipment needs, according to Gardnerville officials.