The construction of Interstate 11 brings unique challenges and opportunities for Boulder City residents. The new route will help lessen the traffic congestion upon our local city roads and create additional points of connection for the CANAMEX Highway route for the movement of goods between Canada – USA – Mexico. One of those new connection points is the new interchange where Interstate 11 crosses US Highway 95, just south of the Railroad Pass area. The lands surrounding the new interchange have been attracting attention by local, regional and national development firms as they have recognized the significance of a new interchange between the two major transportation routes.
Since the announcement of Interstate 11, the City has been subject to development pressures for piecemeal development proposals. In the Spring of 2016, the City Council chose to take the proactive step of developing a vision (called a "master plan" for convenience) to identify the types of land uses that would fit within our community and other design standards. Recognizing that the Interchange is well outside our developed infrastructure, the City Council asked that estimates be prepared to identify the types of infrastructure that would need to be extended and their costs. The utility and transportation needs and cost information is useful for potential lessors as they evaluate the site for a potential project. The same information is also beneficial to the City's Planning Commission for the overall City Master Plan for utility and transportation planning.
The City Council has several priorities that they wanted to see protected or addressed:
- To do no harm to our existing businesses along Nevada Highway and our Historic Downtown
- To not be burdened with the expense of extending utility and transportation infrastructure (i.e., the developer is responsible for extending infrastructure at their cost)
- To receive recommendations on development standards, zoning classifications, and a desired/not permitted land use matrix.
The Plan provides information on the above topics and more.
What's next? This document will be used as a resource. Our current City Master Plan has several site-specific plans called "sub-area plans". The Interchange site may become an additional sub-area plan.
Any future development of the area will be required to follow City Code. This includes required public meetings and hearings for land leases or sales. For example, if land is proposed to be sold at the interchange, our City Charter requires that it be voted upon by our residents at a regular general election.
The links below are tied to the current draft documents that the City Council will be reviewing. The documents included are:
Master Plan Report by the City's consultant, GC Garcia. The report is a high-level review of the how the site should be formally master planned for future development. View the print version (PDF) or access a home printer friendly version (PDF)
Economic Analysis Report prepared by RCGeconomics (a subcontractor to GC Garcia). The report provides an analysis of regional development needs and provides information about the market demands for new development at the Interchange. The report goes into great detail about the challenges in the Las Vegas Valley market and the advantages of being off the Strip corridor. The report assumes a 10+ year buildout period for the interchange. Download the report (PDF).
An Infrastructure Needs Report prepared by TYLIN International (a subcontractor to GC Garcia). The report provides estimates of the types of utility infrastructure that would need to be extended (size of pipes, new electrical substation, etc), and the cost estimates to extend such infrastructure. This document was created to assist potential lessors of land around the interchange by identifying what would need to be extended to the site to serve their project and what those costs may be. Download the report (PDF).