NRS278.0272. Development, review and amendment of regional plan; public hearings required.

      1.  The regional planning commission shall develop a comprehensive regional plan for the physical development and orderly management of the growth of the region for the next 20 years.

      2.  The plan must consist of written text, appropriate maps and such goals and policies, including those addressing current and future problems, as may, in the opinion of the commission, affect the region as a whole and are proper for inclusion in the regional plan.

      3.  In developing the plan, the commission shall:

      (a) Review and consider each existing regional plan and master plan that has been adopted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and that applies to any area in the region, and any similar plan of a local government, and may seek and consider the advice of each local planning commission and any other affected entity; and

      (b) Coordinate the elements of the plan and make them consistent with each other.

      4.  Before approving the plan, the commission must hold a public hearing on the proposed plan in each of the cities within the region and in the unincorporated area of the county.

      5.  Before amending the plan, the commission must hold at least one public hearing on the proposed amendment at a location in the region.

      6.  The approval of the plan or any amendment to it must be by resolution of the commission carried by the affirmative votes of not less than two-thirds of its total membership.

      7.  The regional planning commission shall review the plan annually, update it not less than every 5 years, and forward its recommendations regarding proposed amendments to the plan to the governing board for adoption. Amendments to the comprehensive regional plan may be proposed only by the regional planning commission, the governing board or a local governing body. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 8, all requests for amendments to the plan must be studied and considered at public hearings held annually by the commission.

      8.  The commission may consider a proposed amendment and determine whether it is necessary to the health and welfare of the community or substantially benefits the community in general. If the commission determines that the amendment is necessary, it may schedule a public hearing on the amendment at any time. Any person may appeal the determination of the commission to the governing board.

      9.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, notice of the time and place of each hearing required by the provisions of this section must be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the region at least 10 days before the day of the hearing. If there is more than one newspaper of general circulation in the region, notice must be given by publication in at least two such newspapers. Notice of the time and place of the initial meeting of the regional planning commission and the hearing at which the commission receives testimony concerning final approval of the comprehensive regional plan must be given by publication at least 30 days before the day of the meeting or hearing. Notice given pursuant to this subsection must be a display advertisement of not less than 3 inches by 5 inches.

      (Added to NRS by 1989, 761)