SPANISH SPRINGS - The Spanish Springs Citizen Advisory Board will hold its first meeting of 2010 at 7 p.m. today at the Lazy 5 Regional Park Community Center.

Continuing the discussion started at the meeting on Nov. 10, 2009, Washoe County planner Eric Young will address CAB members and Spanish Springs residents’ concerns about the current area plan. At the November meeting, Young informed the board that the Spanish Springs Area Plan was no longer considered relevant to Washoe County because the community has grown out of the area plan that was revised in 2002.

Young said the Washoe County Planning Commission needs affirmation from the community about what it wants and needs in Spanish Springs. Young suggested the CAB review the community character statement and consider revising the area plan to address the commercial land use percentage cap, originally set at 7.5 percent but which has increased to 9.86 percent.

In addition to addressing the Spanish Springs community character statement, the CAB will also hear from Young about converting from Washoe County’s one-map planning system to a two-map planning system. Currently, one map is used to represent both the master plan and zoning. With a two-map system, each would be represented separately. The board will also hear a presentation form Lynda Nelson and Jennifer Budge from Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space about existing and future open space and recreational projects, including possible coordination with the Bureau of Land Management at the Spanish Springs Airport.

Martin Marietta’s explosives engineer, Dean Wiegand, will address the board to explain the company’s blasting protocol. He will also inform Spanish Springs residents near the Martin Marietta aggregate pit at Sha Neva Road about projects scheduled for February in which explosives could be used.

Representatives from the Regional Transportation Commission will also attend the CAB meeting to address traffic patterns and progress made on the Pyramid Highway/U.S. 395 connection study. The study explores options to relieve traffic congestions as well as how to better connect Spanish Springs residents with U.S. 395 from Pyramid Highway and Vista Boulevard.

In addition to hearing from RTC representatives, CAB members will hold a discussion to forward possible recommendations to the Washoe County Board of Commissioners about the need for safe pedestrian access to Spanish Spring shopping centers as well as Lazy 5 Regional Park.

The CAB meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Lazy 5 Regional Park Community Center at 7100 Pyramid Highway.