Character Districts are a product of, and are delineated on maps adopted in the Lyon County Comprehensive Master Plan. The Character Districts help define, maintain, or enhance desired character of development or intensity in particular areas of the County.

They control and modify the land use designations to achieve the type and character of development desired in communities. A community may have one or more Character Districts within its boundary. The following Character Districts are described in the sections that follow:

   Rural Districts,

   Suburbanizing Districts,

   Historic Districts,

   Future plan areas, and

   General County.

For a complete description of Character Districts and land use designations see the Lyon County Comprehensive Master Plan - Countywide Component, chapter 3, Land Use, Economy and Growth. (Ord. 603, 11-1-2018; amd. Ord. 607, 9-19-2019)

Rural Districts include those areas that are predominately undeveloped open space, in agricultural or resource-based use, or very low-density residential development with limited neighborhood commercial uses. Zoning district requirements and the Lyon County development standards reflect the "rural" character of the area. (Ord. 603, 11-1-2018; amd. Ord. 607, 9-19-2019)

Suburbanizing Districts include those areas that are predominately medium to high-density residential development with regional/community commercial, neighborhood residential and commercial uses, and industrial and employment uses. Zoning district requirements and the Lyon County development standards for uses within this Character District reflect the "suburban" character of these areas and include requirements for Municipal water and sewer, roadway design appropriate to the planned land uses, landscaping of public areas, and pedestrian facilities (sidewalks and paths). (Ord. 603, 11-1-2018; amd. Ord. 607, 9-19-2019)

Historic Districts include those areas in and around lands included in the Comstock Historic District, including Silver City and portions of the Dayton area, or other future historic designations to preserve existing historic character or to promote "historic" architectural design elements. Future Historic Districts may also be designated where the intent is to promote new compatible development that is in keeping with the "historic" development patterns and architectural design elements to create more vitality. Tools might include mixed-use, design guidelines and conservation easements. (Ord. 603, 11-1-2018; amd. Ord. 607, 9-19-2019)

Lands in locations where future development may occur, but where additional planning is necessary because of factors such as large common ownership, topography, current lack of infrastructure, joint planning areas or other factors are present which require additional and/or more focused planning efforts. (Ord. 607, 9-19-2019)

Lands outside the boundaries of defined community boundaries are classified as General County. These lands are rural, resource or public lands, and are intended to remain largely undeveloped or with very low intensity development within the Master Plan's planning horizon. The development standards applicable to General County lands are the same as those for Rural Character Districts. (Ord. 603, 11-1-2018; amd. Ord. 607, 9-19-2019)

Lyon County is divided into zoning districts in order to classify, regulate and restrict the location of trade and industry, the location of buildings designated for specific uses, to protect residential uses, to regulate and limit the height and bulk of buildings hereafter erected or altered, to regulate and limit the intensity of the use of lot areas, and to regulate and determine the areas of yards and open space within and surrounding such buildings.

The zones, listed in table 15.300-1 of this section, are intended to guide development and redevelopment within Lyon County's seven (7) unincorporated communities. The zoning regulations are intended to preserve and enhance the existing character of these communities while allowing the opportunity for residents to grow- in-place.

 

(Ord. 603, 11-1-2018; amd. Ord. 607, 9-19-2019)