At last night’s Planning commission meeting, the commissions voted to uphold all their previous decisions:

• MDS zoning, 632 homes on Matera Ridge (vote 7-0)
• Upzoing Gourley property to LDS (vote 6-1, Edwards opposed)
• Neighborhood Commercial zoning at Galena Gateway and Edmonton-Thomas Creek (odd vote – see below)

• Upzone 3.1 acres across from the Lodge to MDS – allows 9 homes (vote 4-3, Lockard, Cobb, Magers opposed)

 

These are the main issues of concern to the citizens. The commissioners voted with the citizens on NONE of these issues.

 

The Neighborhood Commercial vote was odd. The staff report mentioned limiting commercial by introducing a maximum 10% “Floor Area Ratio” limitation. We learned during the meeting that this idea came from John Krmpotic, representative for Galena Gateway. (So the regulated party is writing the regulations. Can you say conflict of interest?)

 

The Commissioners’ original motion was to keep the zoning at NC, with no mention of Floor Area Ratio. Commissioner Lockard amended the motion to add the Floor Area Ratio language. The commissioners who originally made the motion did not support this amendment. However the amendment passed 4-3. I don’t think they ever did vote on the original motion. So the final vote supported NC zoning with the Floor Area Ratio restriction. What this all means is that the commercial component of a development can be 10% of the total square footage of the property. So a 1 acre property (43,560 square feet) with this restriction could have 4,356 square feet of commercial. If they have two story buildings, that number is multiplied times 2. Since the Galena Gateway property is over 6 acres, they could have over 26,000 square feet of commercial, times 2 if they have 2 story buildings. They are only asking for 18,000 square feet of commercial, so look how reasonable and compromising they are being!!! In actuality, they haven’t changed a thing from their original request for 18,000 square feet of commercial.

 

They threw us a few bones:

• Rezoning Forest Service property in the Galena Steamboat hills to Open Space. This will not stop the road to Matera Ridge and can be changed at any point in the future.
• New language on signage to protect dark skies.
• Reinserting hobby livestock language into the character statement.
• Adding language about “preserving and protecting” the regional asset of the gateway to Lake Tahoe (but not taking any action that would actually preserve and protect.)

 

Other votes:

• Remove mention of a “Specific Plan” from the Mt. Rose Resort Services Area. They can still do condos with their Tourist Commercial zoning.
• Keep language on “a range of housing opportunities” so condos and apartments will be allowed.
• Work with NDOT and RTC to analyze the need for the Butch Cassidy Extension to Thomas Creek
• Consider land use changes on Spittler and Olson properties near Fawn Lane – more development.

 

I never had much hope for the Planning Commission supporting any of the citizens’ major concerns. They proved me right.

 

The next step is the Board of County Commissioners. That meeting will probably be July 14 or July 28. Everything will be back on the table and our elected officials might be more inclined to take action in our favor than the appointed Planning Commission. The process is nearing the end and we will make one final push.

 

Beth Honebein

beth@honebein.com

(775) 849-0371