43°F
weather icon Mostly Clear

City moves to annex small plot already surrounded by BC

“Clowns to the left of me. Jokers to the right.” But in this case it’s “Boulder City to the left of me. BC to the right.” And, like so many other local issues, this one is really all about water.

It is rare that private property owners in an area outside of a city’s limits ask to be absorbed into the city, but that is the case with the owners of a four-acre plot in the Eldorado Valley that is otherwise totally surrounded by BC.

“In 2023, the City of Boulder City annexed 2,500 acres of unincorporated land in the Eldorado Valley,” said acting City Manager Michael Mays as he explained the issue to the city council. “Henderson also annexed significant land within the same valley. This results in very few parcels remaining that are currently unincorporated Clark County. Before you this evening is one of those examples and they are seeking annexation to the City of Boulder City.”

“This four-acre parcel is located on U.S. Highway 95, south of the I-11 interchange,” Mays continued and then got to the crux of the issue. “The property owners would like to build two office/warehouse buildings on this property. To do so, they need water and, to receive water from Boulder City, there is a requirement for annexation.”

The council, after council member Cokie Booth pointed out that the zoning change would greatly increase property tax revenue for the land (which was the only discussion), voted unanimously to change the zoning.

This is only the first step along the road to the annexation happening and is a similar process to what occurred in 2023 with the 2,500-acre annexation.

The next step is that city staff would bring an annexation report to the council outlining the effects on the city of the proposed annexation.

This resolution is basically the council informing the world that they intend to annex the property and are setting up the process, including a public hearing.

Now that the resolution has passed unanimously, staff will prepare the report on the impact of the annexation. Council will vote on a motion to consider the study. That process will begin on June 10. (Note that the first council meeting in June is being moved up a day in order to clear the normal meeting Tuesday for the primary election which will include two city council seats and the justice of the peace for Boulder Township.)

The introduction of a bill making the annexation official will take place —barring unforeseen complications —at the June 25 meeting. A public hearing and a final vote on the annexation is scheduled for July 9. If all goes according to plan, the annexation would be effective on July 31.

According to Community Development staffer Nakeisha Lyon that is only one part of the process. “The Planning Commission will consider and make a recommendation on amendments for them to move forward to the City Council. After the Planning Commission meeting, two City Council meetings are required to complete the process. The first is for the City Council to introduce the zoning amendment bill, and the second is for the City Council to decide on the zoning and master plan amendments.”

The earliest the rezoning could be effective would be the end of August.

MOST READ
THE LATEST
The bond between Boulder City and Searchlight

If you talk to the staff at Harry Reid Elementary School in Searchlight, you may hear them describe their campus as “the heart of the community” or “the jewel of the desert.”

Council gives lake-view lot to chamber

After a very short introduction by city staff and without discussion, the city council voted unanimously last week to give a 50-foot-square piece of city-owned land to the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

20-year lease extension up for vote

The gun club was not the only entity with lease extension business before the city council in their meeting last week.

Commercial zoning in Eldorado approved

The going-on-a-year-long process of adding four acres of land to Boulder City and approving it for commercial use is all over except the shouting as the city council voted unanimously and without discussion as part of the consent agenda to approve the changes to the city’s land use map as well as amending the zoning map to allow for future commercial development.

Out of this world: A look at Fisher Space Pen

In a popular episode of “Seinfeld,” appropriately entitled “The Pen,” Jerry and Elaine travel to Florida to see his parents. There, a neighbor, Jack Klompus, shows off a pen that the astronauts used in space because of its ability to still write, even when upside-down.

City council approves 15-home Beazer tract

Without any discussion, the city council Tuesday approved a 15-home subdivision as part of a single vote on the consent agenda.

Council approves additional $140K in construction spending

As part of the consent agenda in Tuesday’s meeting, the city council agreed to add about $140,000 to the amount previously agreed to be paid to GCW, Inc. for management, engineering, design and support services for two projects in Boulder City.

UNLV intern joins BCR staff

Beginning this week, the Boulder City Review welcomes Ian Cruz to its staff as an intern for the spring semester.

Metro officer involved in shooting in Boulder City

Dozens of law enforcement officers responded Friday, Jan. 24, to the 700 block of Sixth Street following a reported shooting.