Franktown Cafe

The Washoe County Planning Department is suggesting “Clustering” as the ideal answer for the conflict between development and open space. You build the houses on small lots on a bigger parcel to leave undeveloped space in the parcel that can’t be developed later (ha ha). Anyway, the concept has become intertwined in my thoughts along with the big, new steel warehouse I see every time I enter or exit my front door. We live a couple doors down from the new commercial stables and their 85×200′ steel “barn” here in New Washoe City.

The more I think about it, and consider the opinions of others that have written in, my mind is changing on the subject. We went from disbelief to shock to simmering anger over the placing of a huge commercial building next door, surrounded on three sides by houses. Now, I’m beginning to see the light.

In my previous comments on the subject, on washoevalley.org here I stated that I had had a “reality-check” and realized I was thinking a little too highly of our neighborhood. The real value in New Washoe City, the real beauty, is not in manicured lawns and perfectly trimmed, wood or stucco houses, but in the freedom we have here. And that freedom means the freedom to do with your property what you want (within the confines of county ordinances, of course). More than often, it means homeowners don’t do much at all with their properties. It also can mean they do things that might upset the neighbors in a more “uptight” neighborhood somewhere else. I just had to be reminded what type of neighborhood we live in.

What does this have to do with clustering? Well, lets take it one step further. With increasing oil prices and energy costs, it will be more efficient and economical for as many people to work near their homes as possible. We should open up New Washoe City to all businesses, not just commercial stables and the other type of business allowed under current zoning- fast food/convenience stores. Obviously, it is not the type or size of building that is otherwise banned in our neighborhood, it is the use. Who cares what the use is if it is contained in any kind of building you want? Here in New Washoe City, we’re not concerned with what our neighbors do, nor are they concerned about our activities and that is why we chose to live here. Let them build whatever they want.

If you drive around and really look, there are vacant lots all over the community that could be used and if one group of residents can have a big warehouse in their backyard, everybody ought to have the oppurtunity- especially the property owner of the business.

Worrying about the proposed Weston/Lowden subdivision seems a little silly, this is New Washoe City, after all.