Open space plan goes to public
Draft documents vision for protection, connection

   "...finding new trails to run has been a challenge lately, especially with all the new development and the closing of some areas, including the Ballardini Ranch...."

Reno Gazette-Journal 3-27-2006

Neighbors for Responsible Planning responds
to misleading Reno Gazette-Journal front page story

RENO (11-8-2005) – Residents who live near the proposed Ridges at Hunter Creek development will respond before the Washoe County Commission today to a misrepresentation of their position in the morning newspaper.

    "We have told the Reno Gazette-Journal on numerous occasions that we do not oppose the proposed trailhead. We do not oppose access, we just want access appropriate to our neighborhood," stated John Hara of Neighbors for Responsible Planning.

    "Our concerns do not revolve around approving a trailhead. This is all about a 107-acre subdivision with inadequate, unsafe ingress and egress. It's also about getting a fair hearing of our concerns.

    "We believe that the planning commission has allowed the 53-home development to move forward without adequate consideration of a wide range of issues, all of which have been presented in writing and are posted at our website. We are asking county commissioners to send the proposed development back to the planning commission for further review, especially of emergency vehicle access," he stated.

    "If anything, delay makes my family's life more hectic," Hara added.

    "Our home is located at what the Gazette-Journal has termed the unofficial trailhead, so any prolonging of the process means more traffic and vehicles and horsetrailers parked willy-nilly at my front door. We will pay that price to see that this project is properly planned and implemented," Hara said.

     He listed the following points of disagreement with the Gazette-Journal's front page story:

     * Just one neighbor is quoted and only with respect to fire danger, not the trailhead.

     * No statements from nearby residents appear in opposition to the trailhead because there are none.

          The reporter's first question to us was "Why do you oppose the trailhead?" Our response: "We don't oppose the trailhead. We're for access but we want it right-sized to preserve the rural character of the neighborhood."

     * Reno fire division chief Marty Scheurman's statement about fire access misleads because he addresses Plateau Road, not our concerns about the Reno Fire Dept. waiving fire code for EaglesNest/County emergency access.

     * The second-page headline misleads as well since Washoe County staff and the Nevada Division of Forestry did not approve the Bear Mountain access (it loops onto Woodchuck).

Reno Gazette-Journal front page story entitled
"Neighbors oppose Hunter Creek Trailhead"
Front page below the masthead, 11-8-2005

The Hunter Creek Development:
Neighbors for Responsible Planning
Appeal of Planning Commission Decision

Tuesday, November 8th, 5:30 p.m.

Washoe County Commission Chambers
E. Ninth St. at N. Wells Ave.
Reno, Nevada

      IMPORTANT. This sub-division will permanently alter Hunter Creek and the surrounding Juniper Hills/Juniper Ridges/EaglesNest/Caughlin Ranch neighborhoods.  Please attend the hearing.

      This development has critical problems that have not been given proper consideration. If you feel like you have serious questions, you're not alone. If you don't have questions, you're not paying attention. The developers and County are conducting an all out campaign to sell us on the virtues of a sub-division in vanishing open space. There are flaws flying under cover of scare tactics such as: if it's not approved, we'll lose trail access or if it's not approved, Reno will annex the watershed. Simply not true — contact us for facts.

COMPROMISE FOR BETTER SOLUTIONS NOT WORSE

      Our quality of life is at stake and shouldn't be compromised lightly. Is a 60-car parking lot (compared to zero cars now) worth the loss of vanishing open space and habitat? Who benefits when 320 acres aren't guaranteed for the public? Who benefits from an additional 1000 or more average daily vehicle trips? Who benefits when the Fire Marshal reverses his decision to adhere to fire codes (see attached)? Who doesn't?

 
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS CAN COUNTER POLITICS AND MONEY

      We've made incredible progress building our case. Our challenge is to get it fairly heard and evaluated. We've been doing our part, now we need YOU to do yours - write, recruit, show-up and CONTRIBUTE.

Text of the appeal before the Washoe County Commission

THE MAJOR ISSUES AS WE SEE THEM

Aerial map of the affected region

See for yourself: Visit the Hunter Creek Photo Gallery

Reno Gazette-Journal locator map
RGJ map showing more of the southwest quadrant