development
20 years ago, residents rose up to fight urban development in Washoe Valley.
This article appeared in our previous local news website washoevalley.org in 2007.
"They are a bunch of Chicken Littles down there,"
Weston Lowden Attorney Characterizes Washoe Valley Residents
Developers to Citizens: MORONS!
The attorney for the proposed Weston/Lowden development in northeast Washoe Valley asserts that Washoe Valley Residents fears of continued Reno urban sprawl are unfounded. What he bases this opinion on in contrast to history is not revealed in this RGJ article. It does show the contempt that government and development forces have for residents/voters/taxpayers.
Faced with the lessons learned from rampant development in every direction from Reno, Washoe Valley residents are apparently foolish to fear that it could happen to them. We are told to trust in government and the better judgment of big money.
"They're sticking their heads in the sand, saying no growth, no growth," Mollath said. "They are going to get municipal water and sewer whether they like it or not. They can have their rural lifestyles. But the only ones who are going to be able to live there are cows."
Oddly enough some think a rural lifestyle is foolish and that everyone's ultimate goal should be to live in a phony environment of concrete and asphalt with the citizens picking up the bill for maintenance and services while the developers walk away with the profits. Lip service is paid to "rural lifestyles", "history", "scenic values", "open space" but the real intent is to maximize the profit for the development driven economy of Reno.
They may be right, showing up at Tuesdays meeting may be an exercise in futility against our development-drug crazed government but it is our duty as citizens to assume we are still in charge and make the effort to influence our government, community and lifestyles.
May 21, 2007
This developer proposed building 140 homes in a cluster style development across from Little Washoe Lake in North Washoe Valley. Water and sewer was to be in conjunction with the proposed Sierra Reflections development. The small homes and lots were to be clustered in groups surrounded by open space.
It might have been the Great Recession of 2008 or other factors that postponed the development of both projects. Mr Lowden passed away and the Weston -Lowden properties were eventually sold as 5 acre lots with the homes you see today.
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