New housing limited in Boulder City

The two-stoplight town of Boulder City will likely maintain its small-town appearance because it won't experience a growth spurt anytime soon, unlike its Clark County counterparts, due to its growth-control ordinance and small amount of privately owned undeveloped land.

"We have a growth-control ordinance that was passed in 1979 that limits the number of new residences to 120 per year. Housing proposals go to the Allotment Committee which reviews the proposals and rates them individually according to a number of factors, including the builder's qualifications and plans. If a proposal receives a rating above 70, then it goes to the Planning Commission for their review," Boulder City Mayor Bob Ferraro said.

"During this past year, we haven't had many requests and we didn't fill our 120 allotment. What I see happening now is that the new homes that are being built are larger and more expensive and they are generally custom homes."

From July 1999 to June 2000, 60 dwelling units were completed and 47 allotments were awarded. Ferraro said the ordinance does not impact commercial development, with the exception of hotel rooms.

"What is really going to control the growth of Boulder City in the coming years is a newer ordinance that requires the vote of the people for the city to sell land that measures more than 1 acre," City Manager John Sullard said.

"Boulder City is the largest municipality in Nevada and encompasses about 200 square miles, and the city owns about 193 square miles of it ... And most of that undeveloped land in private ownership is zoned for commercial development. So there is very little land available for residential growth."

As a result, the resale market is strong in the city, where a median home value of $184,302 was reported by Claritas Inc. in August.

"I think the majority of homes sold in Boulder City are resales, about 90 percent," said Barton Hyde, broker with Hyde & Associates Realty. "There are between 65 and 70 homes on the market right now."

According to Chad Blair of Dick Blair Realty, an estimated 300 to 350 houses, townhomes and condominiums were sold in the city in 2000, a rate similar to 1999 -- a sharp contrast to the roughly 50,000 resale and new homes sold in Clark County in 2000.

Amenities expand

Despite the city's curb on housing starts, construction of amenities has been brisk.

Following years of planning, a 48,000-square-foot library, funded by a $4.4 million bond issue passed in 1999, is under construction in Adams Boulevard Community Park. The facility is expected to open by March 2002, according to Library Director Duncan McCoy.

"The new library will be four times the size of our current library. The present library is just over 12,000 square feet and the new library is about 48,000 square feet," McCoy said. "We plan to operate for about 12 to 15 years from the first floor, which measures about 24,500 square feet, and the lower level is available for expansion when it is needed.

"Our library board has actually been talking about how to deal with growth issues in our current building since 1991. They would discuss various remodeling schemes, various expansion schemes and the possibility of a bond. Before the library bond, the residents of Boulder City had never passed a local bond issue for anything, other than school bonds," McCoy said.

Construction of a 400-seat amphitheater next to the library is slated for completion by mid-December, and the renovation of a gymnasium and art center are expected to be completed in about two months.

Roger Hall, the city's parks and recreation director, said several other projects are under way within the city's 16 parks, which encompass more than 60 acres.

At Veterans Memorial Park, two soccer fields, funded by an individual's donation, are expected to be completed by the end of the year; a 4-acre fishing pond and 2-acre model boat pond are set to open by the beginning of 2002; and construction of a new softball field is slated to begin within the coming weeks.

Changes are also on the horizon for Bootleg Canyon, an area being considered for a master plan, located off of Nevada Highway on Yucca Street along a former back road to Las Vegas. The city council is expected to vote on the master plan later this month.

"We will also ask the council to dedicate the Bootleg Canyon area as a city park, which will cover about 2,000 acres and feature mountain bike trails and hiking trails," Hall said.

Restroom and shower facilities are being added, according to Hall, whose department recently applied for grants to fund a visitor's center, amphitheater, 1,000-seat performance hall and arts center at the canyon.

"Also in September, the International Mountain Bicycling Association will present Boulder City with the Epic Award for Outstanding Mountain Bike Facilities in the world," Hall said. "Hopefully, we will be dedicating the trail system and park at that time, if the council approves it."

Also under construction are an additional 27 holes of golf that will join the city's 180-acre golf course in September 2002.

Hall said the city is also considering renovating its swimming pool complex, which has three pools.

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