Rancho Sierra agrees to improve Dressler Lane bridge in Douglas County

The developer for a 239-unit project on the southwest end of the Gardnerville Ranchos agreed a road south will be the second access and that they will improve the bridge across the West Fork of the Carson River

In exchange, Rancho Sierra received a two-year extension to record its first final map to Dec. 31, 2026.

Had county commissioners denied the extension, Planner Lucille Rao said that they would have had to record a map for the 20-home first phase by the end of the year.

It would not be until the second phase that the developer would have had to complete Heritage Lane south across Bently land to Dressler Lane, which goes to Highway 88 at Fairview Lane.

The bridge is rated at 3 tons, but the approval requires that it be approved to handle 35.7 tons, the equivalent weight of a heavy fire engine.

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Almost four years after receiving final approval for a 239-home subdivision off the south end of Tillman Lane, developers are seeking a two-year delay in the development schedule.

Douglas County commissioners are scheduled to discuss the item at their 10 a.m. Thursday meeting at the CVIC Hall in Minden.

The 80-acre parcel has been zoned single-family residential with 8,000 square foot lots since 2006.

Owner Sierra Group LLC cited economic conditions and the housing market for seeking the delay.

“The extension will allow the housing market to improve, and allow the developer to properly design, permit and construct the project, which includes extensive offsite improvements,” the developer said. “The project cannot be successful without home sales immediately following infrastructure construction, both for the developer and the county, as the streets and infrastructure are proposed to be publicly owned and maintained.”

One of those offsite improvements is paving Heritage Lane before recording the 49-lot second phase. That would cross Bently property down to Dressler Lane and out to Highway 88. Douglas Country requires projects with more than 20 units to have a second access.

That access crosses the Dressler Lane bridge over the West Fork, which is rated for 3 tons. If the bridge is not improved to handle East Fork Fire apparatus, the developer has to provide an alternative access, according to the approval. The weight limit will also require heavier construction vehicles to access the site from Tillman Lane.

Because it is within the receiving area, the developer is required to transfer 235 units of development rights in order to increase density beyond four units allowed on the property.

The project will also contribute 11.8 percent toward improving the intersection of Highway 88 and Kimmerling Road.

On the other side of the Gardnerville Ranchos, an 85-unit subdivision on 33.2 acres just north of Main River Road is scheduled to be introduced at Thursday’s county commission meeting.

Planning commissioners recommended the project at their Jan. 9 meeting.

A public hearing on the project will be conducted by county commissioners at their March 7 meeting.