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Washoe County TV
Schedule

The county cable channel 17 has the county commissioner meetings, a news show, and various public info segments.

Washoe County SVAP page This page has not been updated in a year but does give some information.

Existing South Valleys Area Plan This is the actual document in PDF format.

Washoe County North Valleys Area Plan This plan update is just ahead of ours in completion and you can check it out to see what to expect.

South Valley's Area Plan Draft This is the text of the proposed plan.

Dear Commissioners,


I am writing regarding your consideration of the South Valley Area Plan update for Washoe Valley. I am a current member of the East Washoe Valley CAB. I am a life-long Washoe County resident, long term Washoe Valley home owner, and newly involved with the CAB and the citizens of this valley. I am privileged to serve my fellow citizens and the Commission. I am also blessed to be able to raise my family in the bucolic splendor of Washoe Valley.

However, I must express my dismay and extreme concern for the current state of affairs related to the South Valley Area Plan, specifically the options for the Weston property, or as Community Development has taken to calling it, the "Ophir Road Properties." I'm sure you are well aware of the history of this latest plan amendment. I will not recount it's history here. But let me draw your attention to the Planning Commission's consideration of the SVAP on July 15. To the surprise of all, the Planning Commission approved option #2, which would allow 334 homes on the Weston property. This was the most dense development of all the options put forth by Community Development staff and includes Low Density Suburban and Medium Density Rural zoning. Option #1 would maintain the Weston property zoning at General Rural. This option was rejected despite it's endorsement by both Washoe Valley CABs and virtually all of the public comment that evening (except for Mr. Weston's lobbyist). Option #3 would allow a mix of zonings and up to 176 houses. I believe this option was offered by CD staff as a potential compromise position. But it too was rejected by the Planning Commission.

At this meeting, Mr. Weston's hired gun portrayed the citizens of this valley as "No Growth" extremist. I believe it was the concerted efforts of Mr. Weston's lobbyist which prompted the Planning Commission to vote the way they did that night. I found this characterization of the CABs and the citizens of this valley to be offensive and entirely without merit. Mr. Weston chose not to actively participate in the various community meetings held on the SVAP since Washoe Valley was separated from the rest of the Plan. His lobbyist certainly never attended.

But I have. And what I have seen is a whole community committed to preserving the rich natural and recreational resources, historic assets, and general rural character of Washoe Valley. And they are all committed to the ideal of equity and fairness. The citizens of Washoe Valley are not opposed to all development. They are not opposed to the rights of land owners in the valley to develop their land, so long as it done under the same rules as everyone else in Washoe Valley. That would mean a maximum density of 1 home per 5 acres under current rules. The CABs have been opposed to any revisions to the Plan which seeks to single out any one landowner for special privileges above and beyond those enjoyed by other landowners in the valley.

The extreme density levels of option #2, as approved by the Planning Commission, represent special privilege for one landowner. It does not represent fairness, equity, nor the consensus view of the citizens of Washoe Valley. Approval of this option would irrevocably unleash a serious assault upon the water resources, recreational opportunities, and scenic beauty of Washoe Valley. And this at a time when building has slowed dramatically in the county. There is no demonstrable need for this development in the current economic environment. It is a guarantee of future municipal services in Washoe Valley and will lead to even further dense development. This option stands in stark opposition to the rest of the South Valley Area Plan for Washoe Valley. It defies all of the Plan's primary goals. Washoe Valley is a unique resource for the County. It is unparallelled for a combination of accessibility, myriad outdoor recreational opportunities, and sublime scenic splendor. It is not just the citizens fortunate enough to call Washoe Valley home who benefit from this asset. It is all the citizens of Washoe County who benefit from preserving this priceless jewel.

I ask you to consider this perspective before voting on the South Valley Area Plan update on September 9th. Please do not be swayed by the best persuasion Mr. Weston can buy. Reject the rantings of his hired gun for what they are - an attempt to secure personal privileges at the public expense. Please show the citizens that all their hard work and efforts were not in vain. Show them that equity and the public interest are more than abstractions. Please reject all the options for the Weston property (ie. Ophir Road Properties) and approve the Plan without them. It is a good plan and the citizens here overwhelmingly support it. Stand up for all the citizens of Washoe County and continue to preserve Washoe Valley for them and for posterity.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Patrick Cates, Member
East Washoe Valley Citizens Advisory Board
August 2008

SVAP Flier:

SVAP Meeting Sept. 9
For more info and background see our SVAP Page
KEEP WASHOE VALLEY RURAL
*YOU ARE URGED TO ATTEND*

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 5:30PM
Washoe County Offices, Wells and 9th Street, Bldg. A
HOT TOPIC:
! Washoe County Commissioners consider approval of the South Valley Area Plan for Washoe Valley.
! 334 Homes are considered for the Weston/Ophir Road Section at Washoe Hill in an Appendix to the plan.
The Washoe Valley CABS and Working Group SUPPORT:
! REMOVAL OF THE WESTON/OPHIR ROAD APPENDIX FROM CONSIDERATION
! APPROVAL OF THE SOUTH VALLEY AREA PLAN AFTER THE REMOVAL OF THE WESTON/OPHIR ROAD APPENDIX
The Planning Commission approved Option 2 with 334 homes and suburban zoning for the Weston/Ophir Section which will bring Truckee Meadows municipal services into the Washoe Valley planning area. Option 3 includes 176 homes also requiring municipal services. Option 1 with fifteen 40 acre parcels is the only conforming option offered for consideration. Go to www.co.washoe.nv.us to view the plan, maps and email the commissioners.
E-MAIL NOW, CALL the Commissioners at 775-328-2005 NOW, and ATTEND!!!
Washoe County Commissioners, 1001 E. 9th St., P.O. Box 11130, Reno, NV 89520-0027
dhumke@washoecounty.us rlarkin@washoecounty.us jgalloway@washoecounty.us kjung@washoecounty.us bweber@washoecounty.us
We will ask Commissioners Humke, Galloway, Jung, Larkin and Weber to please:
> REJECT the Planning Commission recommendation for 334 homes and Truckee Meadows Municipal services for all portions of the Weston section,
> REJECT zoning requiring Truckee Meadows Municipal Services in the Washoe Valley planning area,
> REMOVE the proposed appendix options for the Weston/Ophir Road Section and
> APPROVE the Washoe Valley Portion of the South Valley Area Plan without the Weston/Ophir Road Appendix Options.
Options 2 (334 homes) and 3 (176 homes) do not conform to the Truckee Meadows Regional Plan, the State Engineer 5 Acre limitation for Washoe Valley, the Master Plan or the South Valley Area Plan. The entire Weston/Ophir Section is included as part of Washoe Valley Rural planning area in every Washoe County policy and map. No Weston development should be included in the already approved Pleasant Valley area plan."
We are counting on the Board of County Commissioners to do the right thing.
Thank you.
The Washoe Valley Working Group Contact us at talktome@gbis.com or 849-1078.
For More information go to WashoeValley.org
 

Update August 12, 2008

The East Washoe Valley Working Group has been working diligently in conjunction with the East Washoe Valley CAB (Citizens Advisory Board) to preserve & protect Washoe Valley as much as possible & keep it as a rural community. The South Valleys Area Plan has to be updated every 5 years. We've been working on this for over the last 3 years. The SVAP was put into it's final draft by both East & West Washoe Valley CAB's at a long session May 28th, 2008 at Bartley Ranch which lasted until 10:00 PM. Washoe County Planning Commission was also invited to this session, 2 attending. On July 15th the draft was presented to the Washoe County Planning Commission meeting by the SVAP Senior Planner Sandra Monsalve. Questions were raised & addressed by planners at that time. The final SVAP draft was approved with minor corrections, which is good for our valley. Unfortunately the Ophir Road properties (Weston's 636.11 acres) were also voted upon with 3 alternatives:

Alternative 1- Remain as it is in it's existing zoning, General Rural (1 house per 40 acres)= Maximum of 15 homes.

Alternative 2- Medium Density Rural (1 house per 5 acres)in the Washoe Valley hydrographic Basin= Max 75 homes, & Low Density Suburban in the Pleasant Valley Hydrographic Basin= Max. 259 homes, a total of 334 homes.

Alternative 3- Medium Density Rural on approx. 59% of west portion of the property in the Washoe Valley Hydrographic Basin= Max 41 homes, & General Rural on approx. 41% of the east portion, Max 5 homes. In the Pleasant Valley Hydrographic Basin, zoning mixed between High Density Rural (1 house per 2.5 acres)= Max 27, & Low Density Suburban= Max 103, a total of 176 homes.

Both Washoe Valley CAB’s & Working Groups favored Alternative 1. Of course the Planning Commission approved Alternative 3, which the Ophir Road Property owners favored. We fought like H---, but unfortunately lost on this one. This SVAP update goes to the Washoe County Board of Commissioners for final approval on August 26th at 6:30 PM at the County complex at 9th & Wells in Reno.

The whole SVAP update can be accessed at WWW.Washoecounty.us, to Departments, to Community Development, to Comprehensive Plan, to South Valleys. This does not include the Ophir Properties. To access those you have to go to WWW.Washoe County.us, to Boards & Commissions, to Planning Commission, to Agendas, to July 15 with staff reports. It’s a huge file.

Submitted by resident Ed York.

Comment:

August 12, 2008

Great summary of the SVAP update!! One correction however, the Planning Commission actually endorsed Alternative 2 of the 3 Ophir Rd. Property Alternatives. Unfortunately we did get bumped form the August 26th. BCC meeting to September 9th. (not my doing) but are definitely set on going to the Board on Sept. 9th. At that meeting the Board can either approve the Plan in whole, in part, or send it back to the Planning Commission. I don’t know how it’s going to go, it should be an interesting meeting to say the least! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or call. Thanks again.

Sandy
Sandra L. Monsalve, AICP, Senior Planner
Washoe County Community Development
1001 E. Ninth Street, Bldg. A
Reno, NV 89520
775-328-3608
775-328-6133 fax
 

Update December 11, 2007

Area Plan Update – Dave Harrison reported that they met with staff to work on a timeline for discussion of
the issues. The next discussion will be on Land Use Tables. Bill Naylor stated that there has been
discussion about a possible land swap with Bureau of Land Management and the Weston land. Dave
Harrison stated that Adrian Freund, Director, Department of Community Development has stated that he
would discuss this issue with Mr. Lowden and Mr. Weston. Source: December 11, 2007 East WV CAB

Update October 9, 2007

From the minutes of the East WV CAB Meeting:

County Commission Meeting Wrap-Up

Last night's meeting of the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners was a positive move forward for Washoe Valley residents. At 5:30 the commissioners took up the topic of the South Valleys Area Plan once more in front of a packed house. Previously, the commissioners sent the flawed plan back to the regional planning commission to address residents discontent with several points. The planning commission sent it back to the commissioners with no changes. The members of the Washoe Valley Working Group, a liaison group of local citizens who have been advising the county on the needs of the community over the last 3 years of the process, refined their appeals for last nights meeting. In their public testimony, the  EWVCAB, WWVCAB, Washoe Valley Landowners Assoc. and West Washoe Valley Assoc. all agreed in the main "sticking points" of the the plan. The speakers, and the majority of the individuals that spoke were in opposition to the enlargement of the Old Washoe City commercial area, inclusion of Washoe Valley into the TMSA (which would give tacit approval to mass housing developments) and the creation of any "specific plans".

Specific plans, the county planning staff argues, gives the county a way to steer a parcel into a particular kind of development before any plans have been submitted by the developer. Residents argued that specific plans give developers tacit approval to develop before they have even proved, through the availability of water, utilities, roads, etc. that their development is even viable, or at the least, in the best interests of the community. They argue that developers should use the current system of applying for a "comprehensive plan amendment" like everyone else.

This controversy has less to do about individual landowners and their property rights than it has to do with Washoe County procedures and policies. After all, the owners of the Weston/Lowden development are our neighbors and like most of us, want to maximize their property value. What we need from the county is a system that is fair, predictable and the same for everybody. It is a rare family such as the Greils in the southwest corner of the valley that have entered some of their land into a conservation easement to keep it from being developed in the future.

In the end, once again, the commissioners and the county planning staff acknowledged the valley residents involvement in the process-those members that have worked for 3 years, meeting nearly every Thursday and those who have supported their efforts through meeting attendance, phone calls and emails to the county. The county commissioners voted to bifurcate the SVAP and approve the section for Steamboat-Pleasant Valley and send the Washoe Valley portion back to the planners for repair.
 

This from a correspondent: "I found out at the SV Working Group meeting last night that the Specific Plan part of the plan referring to the Weston/Lowden property is gone, but the instructions were for valley residents east and west to work with the planning dept. and come up with mutually acceptable solutions to the big issues – Weston/Lowden (& others like them), and no new commercial areas."

Stay tuned for further developments!
August 29, 2007
edited Sept. 8, 2007

SVAP/Commissioners Meeting Tuesday Night

Residents Urged To Attend

Last time, because of our protests, the County Commissioners sent the SVAP back to the Regional Planning Commission (see the wrap-up here) where they rubber stamped the original document "No Change" and sent it back to the Commissioners for their approval this coming Tuesday, the 28th at 5:30 PM at the County offices on E. 9th, Reno. The meeting will be held in Building B, Conference Room A.

That failure was due, in part, because of our success in having such a large turnout. That created many different points that the Commission had to boil down into a "short list" of concerns for the planning commission to consider. Somehow, many minor concerns got placed on the list, diluting the impact of the larger points.

This time around, lets all try to concentrate on these larger points to show that the community is united against this plan. If we can convince them to halt the process, address these points, perhaps other issues can be looked at also.

The Main Topics To Speak On (2 minute limit)

• No inclusion into the Truckee Meadows Service Area (TMSA) that would, in effect, authorize production line housing in Washoe Valley.

• No expansion of the Old Washoe City Commercial District and limit density where it exists.

• No Specific Plan in the SVAP for the Weston/Lowden Development as any more than the currently approved 14 homes on the Weston property can only be facilitated with TMSA services.

Here's a note on the meeting from our county community coordinator:

Update on South Valley’s Area Plan

On the August 28 Board of County Commissioners meeting, staff is recommending that item 14 (Request to amend the boundaries of the Washoe County Truckee Meadows Service Area) be heard after item 22 (Public Hearing of the South Valley`s Area Plan). Item 22 is 5:30p.m. time certain, which means item 22, will be heard on or after 5:30p.m. To review the agenda please visit the Board of County Commissioners webpage www.washoecounty.us/bcc.
August 25, 2007

Make That August 28th!

In all the excitement around here, the meeting date for the SVAP agenda got screwed up and I didn't double check my sources and now we know that our item will be brought up at the August 28th meeting of the county commissioners. We apologize!
July 22, 2007
Comment on this article

Hold Yer Horses!

Commission Meeting Rescheduled

Due to  a meeting set to start at 10am with our agenda item set to start at 5:30pm, the county commissioners are continuing the SVAP agenda item to Saturday, July 28. It was decided there were just too many items for one meeting. I don't know what that will do to our attendance, being on a Saturday, it may mean that we can have a bigger showing of community concern. Spread the word and see you then.
July 22, 2007

Attend The Commissioners Meeting Tuesday!
Hold Yer Horses! (see above)

Yes, the theme of last May's meeting was "Last Chance". Well, we get one more chance this Tuesday, July 24th. Due to the large and effective turnout at that meeting the Commissioners referred the matter back to the planning commission with the instructions "fix it". Although, what was presented to the planning commission last week was a lame list of seemingly random points that the public spoke on in opposition to the South Valleys Area Plan and the instructions were to "review" the issues, not to change the SVAP in regard to the issues. So predictably, the planning staff just reviewed the issues, asserted their views and methods were correct and the planning commission supported them by voting for "no change" in the SVAP.

That lapse needs to be addressed in the upcoming meeting of the commissioners where they again, like in May, will hear public testimony and vote on whether to send it back for changes or give final approval of it.

Please review the information on the SVAP page regarding the May 22nd meeting and stress that these items must be changed, not just dicussed.

Meeting: County Commissioners, July 24th, starts at 10am but our item is scheduled at 5:30 but they can change the time at will (sneaky). Where: County offices at 1001 E 9th, Reno in building B this time (Health and Welfare building on the Wells Ave. side although the gate there might be locked by 5:30 so go in the 9th street gate.) conference room.

AGENDA

If you can't make the meeting, send them an email.
July 18, 2007

Planning Commission Predictable

Report on Meeting of July 11, 2007
(The following is from my notes and recollection filtered through the noise of the yappy family behind me. It may not be accurate and does not replace you going to the meeting yourself.)

The meeting was held in the Health Dept conference room and was attended by 7 members of the planning commission and a fair-sized crowd of citizens. Thankfully, the SVAP was the first item on the agenda. First, the public gave testimony and our familiar and able usual speakers spoke on the 10 points specific to Washoe Valley (testimony was limited to the 10 points below). Ginger Pierce of Pleasant Valley stated that the sewer extension for Sierra Reflections development at the top of Washoe Hill will be only a 12 inch pipe and therefore will never be adequate for anything else. Later, Eric Young of the Planning Staff stated that this was true and that the only way to increase the capacity was to replace the whole thing from Reno and that would never be affordable for the scale of development Washoe Valley is capable of.

A major topic of comment is the parcel shown below that the planners want to convert from residential to commercial as they think a business beside the road might be less obtrusive than 5 houses on the hills. They are also negotiating with the owners to acquire the portion of the property to the west that includes Pagni canyon and the V&T RR route for open space. Residents express fear that the whole parcel could then be developed with commercial structures of every type. Eric Young, the lead planner, assured the audience that commercial in Old Washoe City had to conform to strict guidelines and plan review which made some in the audience chuckle. It was mentioned that NDOT was freaked out about the public stopping on the freeway to access the Pagni Canyon historical site now and how was it going to work with a business?

Richard Williamson, representative for Mr. Serpa, large landowner in the valley, protested the county's presumption to try to regulate water development as well as land development. Mr Young later discussed this question and assured the audience and the planning commission that the previous state supreme court ruling against Mr. Serpa and subsequent talks with the Dept. Of Water Resources and state legal staff does, in fact, give the county authority to regulate water (and water rights) importation or exportation from the valley.

Jane Countryman of the west side CAB said that the TMSA is a tool for development and that allowing the TMSA into the Weston/Lowden property would make all the valley eligible to be in the TMSA. She also warned that we do not have as much water as it appears in drought years and that additional large-scale development could hurt the viability of all water supplies in the valley.

Jeff Lowden, of the Weston/Lowden development thanked the planning staff for all their wonderful work over the last couple of years and said they wanted to do a Caughlin Ranch type of development but they have compromised many times and are down to 140 clustered units and still the community is not satisfied. Eric Young stated later that the "special status of Weston /Lowden actually places more restrictions on the parcel than if the owner did the normal thing and went to the planning commission for a "plan amendment" later to allow a subdivision. Both the public speakers and the staff noted, at different times, that sewer and water restrictions and slopes will probably work to limit the development of the parcel.

Debi Sheltra of the West side CAB noted that there is no need to expand or otherwise encourage the commercial area in Old Washoe City as there is plentiful shopping and services directly to the north and south of the valley. In fact, the current commercial area is struggling and so why make it bigger? Staff said later that the vision of 14 residential units per acre above retail shops probably would never happen due to the need for on-site sewer and water. Eric Holland of the Citizens for Responsible Growth in Reno asked why the county was proposing expanding the commercial area in Old Washoe City when the urban residents of Reno can't even get a supermarket in downtown.

Another big question was all the discrepancies with the rules according to the Regional Plan. The staff said that would not be answered until the Regional Planning Agency reviewed the plan but that most of the same was done in the recent North Valleys plan and it passed.

At several items on the list the planning commission and staff voiced frustration that these were points they thought were settled at the very beginning of the process and that the residents were bringing up dead issues. Mr. Young admitted that there seems to be a general distrust that all the promises made in the plan are made in thin air and developers could change them at their will later. I don't recall him really rebutting that assertion but he did say , in another statement, that planning documents are dynamic instruments subject to change. He also said the TMSA in the valley is for the expressed purpose of Weston/Lowden and would only be extended for health or safety purposes. 

Mr Young was very sincere-sounding about his concern over the Pacific Flyway and Washoe Valleys role in that international responsibility. A member of the planning commission questioned the county's responsibility to an international treaty and Mr. Young said he didn't know legally but it was the right thing to do and that the SVAP protected the flyway. It wasn't answered though, if the 140 families at the W/L development would see Little Washoe Lake and Scripps Wildlife Refuge as their adjacent "city park".

I had a little chuckle myself at the irony as I noticed a wealthy developer from Incline Village had arrived at 6:30 for his agenda item and was still squirming in his chair at 9:30 for his turn. I know his builder so I went over to say goodbye when I left and he said, "So, now that you've got yours, you don't want anybody else in the valley?" I just said, "Yes." I teased him back by saying that "Ranches used to mean cows, but now we have Caughlin Ranch, Double Diamond Ranch and Damonte Ranch". He chuckled and nodded his acknowledgement as I think, as a custom home builder, he doesn't think much of tract home developments either.

In the end, the staff and the planning commission decided that none of the concerns were valid and chose to keep the SVAP unchanged. They will send it back to the County Commissioners on July 24th where we will be able, once again, to voice our concerns.

I admit the account is kinda sketchy as I'm headed out the door, so if any other attendees want to expand on it, correct it or comment, send it in!
July 12, 2007

July 11, 2007

Washoe Valley Working Groups Answers to the 11 Points to be covered in Tonights Meeting

Use this as a guide to your comments

1).  Special treatment for the Weston/Lowden properties in the Specific Plan.
Special treatment for the Weston/Lowden property is NOT a misconception, as stated in Staff's discussion.  For example, SV.6.1 (s) establishes special consideration and regulatory relief for water supply and wastewater treatment on the Weston/Lowden property, which introduces a precedent that can relax the very laws and regulations that now protect the public health and welfare.  

The Weston/Lowden property borders private parcels with domestic wells; it borders Washoe Lake State Park.  People now enjoy water sports in little Washoe Lake, where water quality is protected by state law; NAC 445A.126.  Little Washoe Lake is also the outlet of Steamboat Creek which flows to the Truckee River and beyond.  

Clean, safe water is our right, and should stay protected by the federal, state, and local laws and regulations in place to protect the public health and welfare.  The SVAP as a legal document must not be allowed to give regulatory relief regarding water supply and wastewater treatment.

The Planning Commission will probably be told by Staff, as it was at the Feb 20 meeting, that special consideration & regulatory relief means more stringent regulation.  If indeed that is what this policy is supposed to mean, then the wording should be changed to say exactly that.

2).  Municipal sewer and water systems coming into Washoe Valley through the TMSA line.  
Washoe Valley is not in the Truckee Meadows Service Area and is not identified as a Future Service Area.  The Regional Plan defines Rural Development Area as an area lying outside the Truckee Meadows Service Area and Map 2, identifies Washoe Valley as a Rural Development Area.

Goal1, Policy 1.1.5 states; “Master Plans of Local Governments must not allow additional development within the RDA that requires the provision of  municipal services.”

Premature introduction of the TMSA into Washoe Valley does not conform to the Regional Plan and could cause all of Washoe Valley to lose it’s current and historical designation of Rural Development Area.

3).   Expansion of commercial zoning “across from a wildlife protection area” and bordering Eastlake Boulevard.  
This statement refers two areas of commercial expansion.  The first is the entire Old Washoe City area to the west of little Washoe Lake.  This area borders the Winter’s Ranch Open Space which serves as a buffer for Scripps Wildlife Management Area and provides important wildlife habitat and nesting grounds.  SVAP Goal 8, identifies this entire expanded area as the Old Washoe City Historic Commercial District shown on the Character Management Plan map, where it is identified as a mixed-use area.  

The expansion of Old Washoe City into an area of mixed-use commercial and multifamily residential will greatly increase population and traffic, and will prematurely increase recreational use of our recently acquired Winter’s Ranch Open Space, before wildlife studies and inventories have been completed, and management plans have been established.  

The second area referred to, is the commercial expansion north of little Washoe Lake, from the outlet of Steamboat Creek all the way to the top of Washoe Hill.  This commercial expansion introduces commercial expansion along Sierra Reflections development to the Eastlake intersection.  The most dangerous intersection in Washoe Valley.  There is no safe place to enter or exit the proposed commercial property, which is on the downhill side of the divided highway where accidents occur on a regular basis causing huge traffic jams.  

This commercial parcel also creates an island of commercial east of Steamboat Creek, because WC Parks is planning a public trail along the creek as an access point to public lands dedicated by Sierra Reflections.

4).  Multifamily dwellings at 14 units per acre within the Neighborhood Commercial zoning.
SVAP Goal 9 establishes Mixed-use development and Policy 9.1.(a) allows residential densities of up to 14 units per acre in Historic Washoe City.

This concept of Mixed-use development, allowing 14 units per acre in Washoe Valley, a Rural Development Area, does not conform with the Regional Plan and will most likely require the TMSA.  In fact, the Regional Plan defines Downtown Centers as Mixed-use areas; defines Regional Centers as Mixed-use areas; defines Transit Oriented Development Areas as Mixed-use areas all of them within the TMSA.  Regional also states; “Mixed-use development will be directed to centers and transit corridors.”, and those Centers and Corridors are identified on Map 4 of the Regional Plan, none which are close to Washoe Valley.  

The TMRP Goal 1, Policy 1.1.5 states, “the Regional Plan defines properties outside the Truckee Meadows Service Area as The Rural Development Area (RDA) - Map 2.  The Rural Development Area consists of dispersed residential, employment and other uses that do not require the provision of municipal services.  To be in conformance with the Regional Plan, Master Plans of Local Governments must not allow additional development within the RDA that requires the provision of municipal service, and must not allow new divisions of land that would create a parcel less than 5 acres in size.”  

Staff may suggest that Washoe Valley is a secondary corridor, but the current Regional Plan only address Transit Oriented Corridors.

5).   No fixed number of units be approved under the Area Plan.
Refers to the Weston/Lowden Specific Plan; Policy SV.6.1 states that the following are “minimum review standards ”, yet SV.6.1 (c) states establishes a maximum of 140 residential units.  The SVAP can easily be amended to increase the number of units.  If the TMSA is approved for this property it will not be possible to limit the number of units to 140.

In 2005 Weston and Lowden presented their CPA for 480 units to the residents of WV.  So we have good reason to believe that the 140 units is only a starting point.  Once the TMSA is approved, an amendment for 480 or possibly more units will follow.  

Assignment of a specific number of units falsely elevates the value of this property, which will prove misleading to future owners, should the property be sold.

Washoe Valley has a required minimum lot size of 5 acres per unit in density & intensity.  Rather than specifying an arbitrary number in the Specific Plan, with no consideration of development constraints, this policy should state: the number of units will not exceed that allowed within the Washoe Valley Rural Development Area and Development Constraints area as identified in the TMRP.  We want our area plan to conform to the Regional Plan.

6).   Densities be computed using land that was not development constrained.
The Specific Plan does not consider development constraints on the Weston/Lowden property.  The property is not a blank slate, it already has improvements and development.  Historic Ophir road bisects the property providing public access to public lands; there is a large home on a 65 acre parcel.  In addition, this is a steep hill of volcanic bedrock and shallow soils; rock outcrops, ridgelines, slope, flood zones, drainages, and wildlife migration routes  will need to be considered.  The property is also bordered by Federal and State lands; Washoe Lakes State Park and Scripps Wildlife management area are downslope on the western boundary.  All these things must be considered.

Areas that are unbuildable, need to be subtracted from the total area before the densities are computed.

7).   Minimum one-acre lots before approving any development (i.e., Weston/Lowden).
The Specific Plan awards a minimum lot size of one half acre on a percent of units.  In Staff’s discussion of item 2, it has already been stated that the Regional Plan does not allow the county to cluster in areas outside the TMSA.  Regional restricts development to a 5 acre minimum in density and intensity.  

Even so, in discussions with Mr. Weston, the East Washoe Valley working group compromised and agreed to allow some lots of 1 acre on the W/L property, instead of ½ acre lots.  Anything smaller than 1 acre is unheard of in Washoe Valley, and would not be appropriate in a Rural Development Area.  This would have to be done without bringing in the TMSA.  

The Regional Plan is very specific in stating its intent for a Rural Development Area, that no new development must be allowed that will require the TMSA.

8).   Permanent protection of all development constrained land.
The Weston/Lowden property is located at the entrance to Washoe Valley, and is a steep hill rising to the east of Little Washoe Lake.   It is directly across Eastlake Blvd from Washoe Lake State Park, and Scripps Wildlife Management Area.  Public lands border this property on all four sides; 100 % to the east and west, and 30 - 50 % to the north and south.  Due to it’s location, contours, and proximity to recreation areas, it is of important scenic value to the entire valley.  At the very least, Washoe Valley landowners and residents would like a guarantee that all of the development constrained lands be granted permanent protection, regardless of ownership.

10).   Investigation of whether the Area Plan must be consistent with a national flyway zone in Washoe Valley.
The Pacific Flyway is protected through an international agreement to protect migrating birds.  Protection of waterways, lakes, wetlands, agricultural lands and habitat used as stopovers on the long migration routes is of utmost importance, as is nesting and habitat areas for those birds using Washoe Valley as a breeding destination.

There are many regulatory and advisory groups such as the Fish & Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee and Flyway Council.  If you consider the huge variety of species involved, song birds, swans, ducks, geese, hawks, eagles, cranes that use the international flyways, you will see the complexity and great expense that goes into protection of the Pacific Flyway.  Federal & state regulations led to NDOT’s establishment of artificial wetlands at the south end of Washoe Lake to mitigate the loss of wetlands in Washoe County.  Washoe Valley was chosen as the natural and safe location for these artificial wetlands and because migratory birds depend on this valley.  

All around us wetlands, small lakes, agricultural lands, creeks and streams are being lost to development.  There is a heron rookery in Scripps where different species of heron nest and find food in the meadows of the Winter’s Ranch Open Space.  Regulations and protection of Washoe Valley’s lakes, wetlands, and wet meadows from degradation due to misuse by recreationalists, inappropriate development along buffer zones, erosion of surrounding hillsides due to development, all these things and more are factors important to the protection of the Pacific Flyway.

An international agreement needs more than lip service to fulfill it’s goals.

July 8, 2007

Staff Report for Planning Commission Meeting of July 11 Review

Concerning the Weston/Lowden Development
by the editor

The property owners are requesting that the Truckee Meadows Service Area (TMSA) be extended to include the parcels commonly known as the Weston/Lowden development at the corners of 395/Eastlake/Skinner. The planning staff says this is necessary to allow for small lot "clustering" of homes as the Regional Plan will only allow 5 acre lots in this area and is recommending to the planning commission that this be approved. Part of the rationale for approving this is that the land is adjacent to the existing TMSA border. If this is the criteria for extending the TMSA then there does not seem to be any limit to where the TMSA can be extended to. If this is approved, New Washoe City will be adjacent to the TMSA and thus subject to inclusion. This opens the door for municipal services and therefore high density development and possible future annexation everywhere.

July 8, 2007

Staff Report for Planning Commission Meeting of July 11 Review

Concerning the SVAP
by the editor

In May the County Commissioners referred the matter of the SVAP back to the planning commission in response to the many concerns of the residents expressed at their meeting. They did this in the form of 11 concerns they garnered from the public testimony. I don't know what criteria they used to choose these concerns from the many expressed- there seems to be several major ones that are missing. Be that as it may, here is my review of the staff's responses to the Commission in their "staff report":

• 1. Citizens objections to special treatment of the Weston/Lowden Development in the plan.

I think the basic problem here is that residents think that the development of this land and how it is to be developed is still up for debate and the planning staff thinks that it definitely will be developed somehow. Their argument is that since it will be developed, the SVAP is the best way to regulate the way in which it will be developed. That is, the way the planning dept. staff sees as their vision for development.

• 2. Citizen Objections to municipal sewer and water systems in WV

The Truckee Meadows Service Area (TMSA) is a planning tool for designating where municipal utilities can be extended. This is seen by residents as being a "first step" in bringing suburban development into the valley as developers can say "Hey, you've approved high density services, so that must mean you approve high density development". The staff argues that the SVAP is bullet-proof in not allowing high density housing and that extending the TMSA will give them a tool to require "clustering". Clustering is the theory that the illusion of a rural atmosphere can be maintained if a development is confined to adjacent small lots leaving the rest of the surrounding parcel in open space. People that like to recreate tend to like open space and people that don't like people recreating near their homes don't like open space. Either way, I think that decision should be up to the residents of the valley, not planners from back east.

Whether or not the SVAP really is "bullet-proof" is open to debate and the fear is that once the TMSA is extended it can never be rolled back and we will be stuck.

• 3. Citizen objections to expansion of commercial zoning near Little Washoe Lake

Apparently, this is the area across from the Eastlake/395 intersection on the north side of the valley and to the west. I think they mean where Pagni Canyon continues to the north along which the historic V&T Railroad track ran. The staff says that this really isn't next to the lake or wildlife area being across the highway. Also, they argue that homes there in the hills would be much more visible than commercial buildings along the highway. I think that any development in that corridor would be a great loss visually and historically. It is tough for me to imagine custom homes looking worse than roadside commercial also. And where is the push to expand the boundaries of Old Washoe City anyway? The commercial area looks pretty sparse and "unprofitable" now.

• 4. Objections to multifamily dwellings of 14 units per acre in Old Washoe City

Here the staff agrees with me and calls it a "slide into economic and physical deterioration" there in Old Washoe City. Their remedy, in addition to making the slide area bigger as noted above, is to allow some residential mixed with commercial to make the area more of an economically viable "village" (my term). The resident objections I have heard is that this passage in the plan also allows for casinos, convention centers and other businesses that attract high crime housing.

• 5. Citizen requests that no fixed number of units be approved

Staff says that neither the SVAP or the specific Lowden plan provide for any unit number. Although the Lowden plan has an upper limit of 140 units. Will the Lowden development be able to plead poverty and get more approved? Staff says that the actual number of units in the SVAP will be subject to the conditions in the SVAP and the requirements of the development code.

• 6 & 7 Concerns about lot sizes in the Weston/Lowden Development

These questions and answers concern the relatively small lot sizes that would be allowed with some lots to facilitate the clustered development the planners advocate. In the response, the planners say that these are necessary to maintain open space and take into account the slopes in the area. The larger question remains about the use of clustering.

• 8. Concerns about open space being developed later

The planners assert that open space in clustered developments would be preserved through deed restrictions or other mechanisms.

• 9. Concerns that the SVAP references to water allocation and usage were unlawful.

This stems from the fear that the SVAP either would not protect Washoe Valley's water resources or would in some way facilitate the future exportation of water to outside the valley. The planning staff asserts that they have checked with the state water resources department and their legal advisor and that they feel that there is a basis for prohibiting the exportation of water from the valley in the future.

• 10. Is the SVAP consistent with the needs of the national flyway in Washoe Valley

The planners assert that the SVAP recognizes and addresses the need to protect the wetlands in Washoe Valley for this purpose.

• 11. This question concerned commercial zoning in the Steamboat area

  ---

Thanks Neighbors! From one of our hard-working volunteers: "The East Washoe Valley CAB & Working Group would like to thank you TREMENDOUSLY for all your Washoe Valley support we needed last night (Tuesday-ed) at the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting!  You were all respectful & listened intently.  We could FEEL your support, & so could the Commissioners! You were great!     The citizens working the most intently on the Plan were Bill Naylor, Monica Frank, Carol Christenson, Susan Juetten, Bob Rusk, & Jane Countryman.  We also would like to thank Rick, the editor, for his fantastic signs on both ends of Eastlake.   When you see them, please thank them for all their hard work." I, as editor of your community website, would also like to thank everyone who has contributed information, corrections and other content to the site to help keep us Washoe Valley residents informed on the issues. The SVAP issue has not gone away and certainly the threat of runaway development never will either. Other issues like the new nuisance ordinance, annexation threats and the potential sell-off of surrounding BLM land will continue to be topics that will affect us and and which we will be following. Keep participating and be a part of your great community! May 24, 2007 Comment on this article

Huge Turnout at Commission Meeting Transcript Here Planning Commission Told "Fix It" By Commissioners Approximately 300+ residents made the trip into Reno despite the rush hour traffic to attend the County Commission Meeting with the South Valleys Area Plan on the agenda as a public hearing. During the public comment portion of the meeting, before official testimony on the SVAP agenda item, a 30 year resident spoke as he said he could not attend the later item. He praised the residents for being diligent in advising the county and for attending the meeting. He concluded by saying the only fault he could see in the residents is electing the current batch of commissioners. Applause and laughter went up and Mr. Larkin, the chairman of the Board of Commissioners chastised the crowd in a stern tone that any applause or laughter would result in the public being expelled from the chamber. Being humbled, we waited for a recess to be completed and the meeting to continue. Upon the taking up of the SVAP agenda item, the head of the Planning Dept. spoke of the many acres of open space now existing in Washoe Valley, 37,000 acres by his count ( is he counting all public lands up to the extent of the hydrologic valley- up to all the ridgetops?)  He also went on to say that there are only 1990 lots of 5 acres or less available for development in Washoe Valley. I think his point was that we should be happy with all that we have. The commissioners, Humke and Sferrazza, in particular noted that they had been alerted by residents that the SVAP draft version that the county was circulating was not the one approved by the planning commission and that could lead to confusion. They indicated they would probably ask for the hearing be rescheduled to a later date. It was decided that a 60 day continuance may be appropriate. They were to decide on that at the end of the meeting. Public testimony began with those who signed up to speak. Many were from the working group, the CABS and others who are always working for the valley and others who are ordinary citizens concerned about their quality of life, the beauty of the valley and the future of the valleys wildlife. Many residents gave testimony starting with representatives of four groups: the East and West WV CAB boards, the West Washoe Homeowners and the WV Landowners Assoc. All were in agreement that the plan is flawed and incomplete and needs more work. The main concerns were: The Weston/Lowden Development: The subdivision itself was protested as being out of character with the valley and also the precedence it would set. It is feared that if this particular landowner gets special treatment and privileges than any landowner can expect the same thing making an area plan and zoning meaningless. The commercial zone in Old Washoe City: The planners tried to explain that the area actually has less commercial potential in the new plan than the old. But residents pointed out that according to the county map with the SVAP, the physical area is actually expanded. Others questioned the inclusion of multi-unit dwellings and the long list of acceptable businesses allowed under the proposed plan. Other residents involved with the process cited the planning depts slipshod work and lack of interest in residents input while others pleaded for preserving the valleys rural, scenic and natural character. The attorney for Mr. Serpa, large landowner and developer in Washoe Valley, stated that it was his opinion that the SVAP had no right to try to regulate water issues in the valley as that is superseded by the state's water agreements with landowners through the water rights process. Mr. Lowden spoke saying he was a regular guy and liked the rural lifestyle also and looked forward to taking the matter up at the next meeting. I left before the commissioners ended the meeting but this correspondent has the final notes: "What a fantastic turnout we had at the Commission meeting last night.  The public comments were great.  The crowd respectful.  Commissioner Humke supported us, as did Galloway and Sferrazza.  Commissioner Larkin said some nice things and with Weber joining in, the vote was unanimous to send the SVAP back to the Planning Commission with direction to fix the plan.  It was just wonderful to see so many people turn out to support Washoe Valley.  I was told a huge stack of fliers were mailed in, and lots & lots of e-mails and letters of support were received.  Thank you all for doing such a fantastic job for Washoe Valley." See the RGJ.com article on the hearing here. May 23, 2007 Comment on this article

May 19, 2007

Commissioner Humke and County Planning Respond

COMMENTS:

---------------------

I may not be able to attend the May 22nd meeting and I wanted to let you know I want to retain the rural flavor of Washoe Valley
and do not want the area plan that dozens of residents objected to every step along the way -- approved.
The sky is blue here and the birds are singing.  We'd like to keep it that way and allow development on 5 acre or 1 acre
parcels as currently zoned.  Thank you.

__________________

Thank-you for your e-mail. It will be included in the agenda for the May 22nd meeting; so all commissioners will be
 made aware of your concerns. Included below is a response to some of the concerns by residents about the South
 Valleys Area Plan from Adrian Freund, director of Washoe County's community development department. While this
 does not necessarily reflect my official opinion, it may provide you with some useful information. 
 
Sincerely,

David Humke

_______________________

The South Valleys Area Plan is being completely misrepresented in the e-mails that are circulating in the Washoe Valley Area.
The plan seeks to clearly articulate the rural heritage and character of the area, and contains a series of goals and policies specifically
designed to ensure that Washoe Valley retains its place as a scenic corridor between Reno and Carson City. The conservation of
the area's natural resources, including habitat and water, can be considered a foundation of the plan. 

The plan does not allow the types of uses mentioned in a letter recently circulated by the supporters of the Scripps WMA.
 In addition, the plan does not allow the small lot development that now exists in much of East Washoe Valley and in Washoe
City (minimum lot sizes on septic tanks are now 5 acres). The plan generally limits new residential development to individuals
that own legal lots and can construct a residence by right.  The Weston property will have densities of less than one unit per 5
acres and will go through an extensive public hearing process before any development is approved.  That property is now zoned
General Rural and entitled to one residence per 40 acres. The property will be required to conform to the Regional Plan.

I encourage you to obtain a copy of the proposed plan so you can see the extensive treatment given to the concerns you articulate.
I would encourage your neighbors to do the same so that they can be fully informed on the plan.

You can obtain a copy of the plan by stopping by the office and picking up a paper copy, or you can download a copy at:

http://www/comdev/proposed_south_valleys_area_plan_update.htm

 <http://www/comdev/proposed_south_valleys_area_plan_update.htm> 

If you have any further concerns please contact staff planner Eric Young at 775-328-3613 or

eyoung@washoecounty.us <mailto:eyoung@washoecounty.us> .

Thank you,

Adrian P. Freund, AICP, Director

Washoe County Community Development

 

Note: The following three articles are related to the County Commissioners Meeting of May 22nd, 2007 and will provide a good review of the issues. Read the articles below them for the history of the SVAP.

May 18, 2007

Letter to the County Commissioners

The negotiated Settlement Agreement required a land use change from tourist commercial to residential for Sierra Reflections development, (located just north of Washoe Valley). The required WC TMSA extension runs south to Pleasant Valley’s Pagni Lane and has capacity only for Sierra Reflections and those landowners in Steamboat & Pleasant Valley who request services. Staff from WC Water Resources & Sierra Reflections representative, Kenneth Krater, have repeatedly and publicly informed the EWV & WWV CABs that the TMSA for Sierra Reflections does NOT have the capacity for Washoe Valley.^{* On Feb. 20, 2007 Mike Harper told the Washoe County Planning Commission, “Sierra Reflections is a non-conforming use”. As such, it must not be used to set a precedent to introduce the TMSA into Washoe Valley.}

Before the Settlement Agreement, Reno=s SOI included parts of the SVAP, specifically Steamboat & Pleasant Valley and ended at the top of Washoe Hill, the entrance to Washoe Valley. As a result of the Settlement Agreement, Reno agreed to roll back the SOI from Washoe Hill to Rhodes Road in northern Steamboat for which we, the residents of Washoe Valley, are very grateful to the WC Commissioners.

At the Feb. 20th meeting of the WC Planning Commission, Steamboat resident John Rhodes spoke on behalf of himself, his family and the property they own at Rhodes Road, and spoke in favor of the SVAP. The issue we, the SVAP working group, would like to clarify and emphasize is that the Steamboat area, is identified as an Unincorporated Area within the TMSA, which differs greatly from Washoe Valley, a Rural Development Area outside the TMSA. Mr. Rhodes spoke specifically of the family property in Steamboat, and did not address Washoe Valley=s very different situation as a Rural Development Area.

May 18, 2007

May 18, 2007

Documentation for the Letter To the Commissioners

Complete documentation of Non-Conformance Issues (color coded), from the 2002 & 2007 TMRPs, the WC Development Code, the South Valleys Area Plan update, and other sources.

May 18, 2007

Write A Letter, Attend a Meeting For Your "Quality of Life"

Dear Friends of Washoe Valley, outdoor recreation, and wildlife;

Some of you already know about the problems we‘ve had with Washoe County’s update of the South Valleys Area Plan (SVAP).  I’m writing today because I know you must share our concerns over the loss of rural areas, water, and wildlife habitat to uncontrolled growth.  We desperately need your help to keep Washoe Valley rural and to protect its natural resources for wildlife, recreation, and open space.

I am asking for your support in the form of a letter to the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners, protesting the South Valley Area Plan update, as written.  The SVAP will be heard at the WC Commission meeting Tuesday, May 22, 2007 @ 5:30 pm.  This plan must be denied, and revised in order to bring it into conformance with the Truckee Meadows Regional Plan (TMRP) and protect rural Washoe Valley.

The SVAP includes Washoe Valley, Pleasant Valley & Steamboat, but I will concentrate on Washoe Valley.  Washoe Valley is the only area of the SVAP that is identified as a Rural Development Area in the Regional Plan and, as such, is given more protection.  The intent and policies of the Regional Plan take precedence over the County’s plan, and can help keep Washoe Valley rural, and open space, recreation and wildlife areas available and viable in the future.

With respect to Washoe Valley, the SVAP has four conditions that must be revised in order for the plan to be in full conformance with the Regional Plan  & the Washoe County Development Code.   

Washoe County;
     •     must not allow additional development that requires the provision of municipal service, (such as municipal wells or water supply/wastewater treatment facilities to serve new development);
     •     must not allow new divisions of land that create parcels of less than 5 acres;
     •     must prohibit amendments to zoning that increase the density or intensity to allow parcels of less than 5 acres in size within Washoe Valley in order to protect water quality; and
     •     must not expand the current commercial area to include Mixed-use in General Rural or residential areas; or introduce land uses currently not allowed in General Rural and/or Neighborhood Commercial.

All of the above provisions are found in this SVAP and all must be removed in order to keep population growth to a manageable level and protect our natural resources.  

There are two areas in Washoe Valley targeted for development that do not conform to the TMRP.  The first is a Specific Plan for the Weston/Lowden subdivision in east Washoe Valley with parcels smaller than 5 acres, that will require municipal services.  This property is bordered by public lands on three sides; to the west it overlooks little Washoe Lake and part of Scripps WMA, to the east & south is BLM land.  There are development constraints, such as steep slopes, Mule deer winter range & migration route, water supply and wastewater disposal problems.  Within this subdivision, the SVAP grants “special consideration, for water supply and wastewater treatment”, including solutions that “need further regulatory relief”.  We can only imagine the harm that the proposed “regulatory relief” will lead to for the surrounding public lands, lake/wetlands and private domestic well owners.

The second non-conforming area is the Mixed-use expansion of old Washoe City at the north end of Washoe Valley.  To the south, old Washoe City borders the recently acquired Winter’s Ranch open space, which serves as a buffer for Scripps WMA.  The expansion of this area is planned for urban/suburban type development of residential and commercial uses mixed with civic and agricultural uses.  Many of these uses are of increased densities that will require water/wastewater treatment facilities.  Included are hotels with convention facilities, helicopter services, schools, condos, and traditional agricultural uses like animal slaughter.

Both of these non-conforming development areas in the SVAP MUST BE DENIED and REVISED to bring them into conformance with the Truckee Meadows Regional Plan, which takes precedence over local government planning documents.

We have been working very hard on the SVAP and have made progress.  Your letters of support for Washoe Valley can make the difference.  Please write and tell the WC Commissioners that the South Valley’s Area Plan should be denied and brought into conformance with the Truckee Meadows Regional Plan in order to protect Washoe Valley. Whether you write in your official capacity or as a private citizen, Please Write.  The WC Commission meeting is Tuesday, May 22, @ 5:30 pm.

Washoe County Board of County Commissioners:
Commissioner David Humke <dhumke@washoecounty.us>
Commissioner Pete Sferrazza <psferrazza@washoecounty.us>
Commissioner Jim Galloway <jgalloway@washoecounty.us>
Commissioner Bob Larkin <rlarkin@washoecounty.us>
Commissioner Bonnie Weber <bweber@washoecounty.us>

IThank you so much for your interest, your attention and your support for Washoe Valley,

May 5, 2007

Did you know that the Washoe County Planning Commission has decided that the best way to minimize the development of Washoe Valley is to build houses?

Did you know that the same planning commission is taking steps that would soon allow the TMSA to provide services to expand into Washoe Valley which would subsequently allow further housing development in our valley? (Think Spanish Springs).

A few Washoe Valley residents from both the east and west side have for almost 3 years tried to prevent the incursion of housing development into the valley and have been turned away at each meeting with the Planning Commission. This same commission seems determined to change the status of Washoe Valley as a Rural Development Area into something quite different, with expanded commercial potential, expanded potential for housing development.

The residents of Washoe Valley are now down to their last chance to halt this urban spread. The Board of County Commissioners will hear the recommendations of the Planning Commission to approve the South Valleys Area Plan on May 22nd (stay tuned to this site for the exact time and place on the agenda). This is our only remaining opportunity to speak out, please come to the meeting and voice your opinion. If you can’t attend please contact the county commissioners by phone, e-mail or letter. You may also e-mail your local CAB members (West WV CAB click on "roster") (East WV CAB click on "roster") and they will forward them to the commissioners.
 

March 18, 2007

SVAP Approved...Unfortunately

From a correspondent: On Tuesday, February 20th, the Washoe County Planning Commission voted to accept the highly flawed South Valleys Area Plan. I can't say what happened was the Planning Commissions fault. They depend upon Community Development staff, whose job it is to inform the with complete and accurate facts in order for them to make fully informed decisions. The commission members asked the right questions, but the staff planner, a master of deceit, answered with lies of omission, obfuscation, and word games meant to misinform. The planning commission believed staff's misinformation and voted to accept a plan that will introduce suburbia to rural Washoe Valley. My thanks go out to Neal Cobb, the one commission member able to see through the smoke screen and vote against this plan.

The SVAP, as written, will bring suburban housing and commercial uses into Washoe Valley. It changes zoning in old Washoe City to "Mixed Use" allowing high density condominiums, and apartments over shops. It introduces hotel/motels with convention facilities. It introduces utility services, water and sewer to serve all this development. It approves inappropriate housing density for the Weston/Lowden property which will require water/sewer even though the owner's have no water rights.

The Department of Community Development carries the ethical responsibility of seeing that staff perform their duties to Commission and and Board members, if not the public, with the utmost honesty. The sad truth is, when it serves their purpose, ethics are the last thing on their mind: it's all about development and not at all about community.

Our last chance is the Board of County Commissioner's April meeting. If they fail us, I'm very sorry to say Washoe Valley will change from a rural community to a suburb of Reno (and look like south Reno-ed).

February 25, 2007

The minutes of the February 3rd joint meeting of the Steamboat/Pleasant Valley/Washoe Valley CABs and the county planning dept. along with public comment is here.

Your editor went to the meeting and my review is here.

January 30, 2007

Several meetings of the SVAP Working Group and EWCAB are underway behind the scenes to try to provide input on the finishing touches to the Plan are underway in preparation for the big Joint Meeting on Saturday.

SVAP Draft Update Released. Find the latest version of the update here with clarifications, changes and photos.

January 22, 2007

NOTICE OF JOINT MEETING
WASHOE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
AND
EAST WASHOE VALLEY CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD,
WEST WASHOE VALLEY CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD,
AND GALENA-STEAMBOAT CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD
Pleasant Valley Elementary School
405 Surrey Drive
Washoe Valley, Nevada 89511

Saturday, February 3, 2007
________
** THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL TAKE NO ACTION
NOR CONDUCT ANY DELIBERATION **
________
AGENDA
February 3, 2007
10:00 a.m. Under the direction of the Planning Commission Chair, CALL TO ORDER OF JOINT MEETING OF THE WASHOE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, EAST WASHOE VALLEY CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD, WEST WASHOE VALLEY CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD AND GALENA-STEAMBOAT CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD
ROLL CALL/DETERMINATION OF QUORUM OF EACH OF THE FOUR BODIES

APPROVAL OF THE JOINT AGENDA
10:00 a.m. 1. REVIEW OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT CASE NO. CP05-004 (SOUTH VALLEYS AREA PLAN UPDATE) – Staff will provide a detailed review of the draft South Valleys Area Plan. Explanations of the policy approaches taken in the draft plan will be provided and discussed. Staff will display the draft maps associated with the plan and review how they coordinate with the plan’s goals and policies.
Under direction of the Planning Commission Chair, public testimony will be heard. Following public testimony, the Planning Commission Chair will provide each Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) Chair, in succession, an opportunity to conduct their CAB’s deliberation over the draft plan, to include questions of staff. Upon return of the meeting to the Planning Commission Chair from the last CAB, the Planning Commission Chair will provide each Planning Commissioner an opportunity to question and comment on the plan. The Planning Commissioners will neither deliberate nor indicate any final judgment on the plan. Staff Representative: Eric Young, Ph.D., 775.328.3613
2. WEST WASHOE VALLEY CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATION: Following any necessary further clarifications requested of staff by the CAB, the West Washoe Valley CAB will make a recommendation to the Planning Commission.
3. EAST WASHOE VALLEY CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATION: Following any necessary further clarifications requested of staff by the CAB, the East Washoe Valley CAB will make a recommendation to the Planning Commission.
4. GALENA-STEAMBOAT CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATION: Following any necessary further clarifications requested of staff by the CAB, the Galena-Steamboat CAB will make a recommendation to the Planning Commission.
PUBLIC COMMENT
ADJOURNMENT (EXPECTED BY 2:00P.M.)

Although a quorum of the Washoe County Planning Commission may be present, no action will be taken by the Commission.

December 3rd, 2006: Proposed Area Plan on County Website for Review. Comments will be collected until January 15th.

Staff Report: County Planners Report to the Planning Commission on SVAP Progress as of September 19, 2006

Planner Eric Young sent this invitation to the next planning commission meeting and the staff report to be presented to washoevalley.org on September 13, 2006. It is characterized this way: "This item is agendized as a non-action item. However, staff intends to use the planning commission’s discussion of this item as guidance in the development of the final draft that will come before the commission for adoption at a later public hearing. Therefore, staff recommends that the Planning Commission consider staff’s presentation and the community’s comments regarding this update, and then engage in a robust discussion of the update, including any questions of staff and the community. "

    Follow this link to the report.

Letter to Washoe County
(This letter was sent by frustrated members of the West Washoe Valley Working Group to Kathy Singlaub, Washoe County Manager. This is copied from the West Washoe Valley CAB Meeting Minutes of July 18, 2006.)

C. Area Plan Update – Chairperson Struffert read a letter to Kathy Singlaub, Washoe County Manager, dated June 20, 2006 into the record. He stated that this letter reflected his sentiments regarding the matter. This letter had been signed by many individuals. The entire letter is hereby incorporated into the minutes by reference. Chairperson Struffert summarized the historical portion of the letter and read the remaining portion into the record as follows:
“In February 2006, Michele Poché was notified of the lack of either communication or results from our planner. She looked into the extended delay of the Area Plan and communicated to us that she had consulted with Eric Young and he would be forthcoming with his work on our plan. Since then he has attended a few CAB meeting and promised results. But as of June 20, 2006, more than one year since our plan was submitted, we have yet to see any evidence of a second draft of our area plan.

At two separate WC Commission meetings the ongoing delay of the SV Area Plan has been addressed by a member of East Washoe Valley’s working group. In response to questions from the Commission, Adrian Freund could only answer that he was short of staff because planners had quit. One has to wonder why so many have left Mr. Freund’s employ and why competent planners have not been found to fill those positions. Mr. Freund has also commented publicly on more than one occasion, that “the South Valleys Plan is being worked on and Washoe Valley residents will not be happy with the results.”

We have also been told by Eric Young that the Commercial District Plan will not be included. He has told us the plan will be divided into three sections, one of each area. Due to the extended delay the three working groups have yet to meet jointly. But when we do, we will work together as a team to develop the strongest possible plan for our area. The South Valleys Area Plan will serve to unite and strengthen not to divide and weaken.

There is only one Washoe Valley project, the Weston/Louden development, that will benefit by this unprecedented delay. Our version of the updated Area Plan would strengthen the plan and help us remain part of unincorporated Washoe County. Our current plan is neither strong enough nor specific enough to protect us and gives an advantage to the Weston/Louden development. Weston/Louden are asking for an amendment to the current South Valleys Plan, and to the Regional Plan. They are asking to be included in the TMSA, which goes against the negotiated Agreement between Washoe County and Reno and will result in annexation of Washoe Valley by Reno. By his actions and comments it appears that Mr. Freund has stronger loyalties to the City of Reno than he does to Washoe County. Perhaps there is another reason for his behavior, if so we would be interested in learning that reason.

WC Community Development requested citizen volunteers to update the Area Plan and we were told to define our Vision and Character Statement, then to define specific processes to accomplish our community goals. We have worked many hundreds of hours in good faith to update the plan to best serve the overall community and to develop a plan that can be used to defend our Vision and Character Statement. Perhaps we are now expected to “rubber stamp” the plan changes that Mr. Freund has allude to, changes that will undermine our intentions in order to serve a couple of “stakeholders”, and land speculators who wish to exploit the process for their own personal gain.

Every member of our community is a “stakeholder” and those who serve the entire community should be supported in their efforts.

Washoe Valley is a 150 year old community, not a group of housing developments full of strangers. The growth we have experience in the past has bee a natural evolution of our community. New neighbors have established homes here. These are real neighbors who develop real loyalties to Washoe Valley. We will continue to work together to develop a planning document that will benefit the South Valley communities by insuring future growth suitable to the nature and vision of the area.

If our intentions are in conflict with the Washoe County Commission agenda, please let us know.

We would appreciate any help you can give us in getting the South Valleys Area Plan update back on track.

Our Sincere Thanks”

Chairman Struffert stated that he wrote an e-mail to Commissioner Humke last Thursday regarding the same matter. He commented that the plan should be presented in advance for review and study. The meeting for comments on the plan is scheduled tomorrow; however, no draft plan has been presented for review.
He requested that the Board members fully support the letter, point-by-point, and that he be authorized to advise Commissioner Humke of their support.
Debbie Sheltra moved to support this request. Bill Elliott seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Debbie Sheltra requested that the letter become part of the minutes’ record verbatim.
Karena Miller reviewed tomorrow night’s meeting, which will be an open house. She outlined future joint meetings relating to the area plan. Hans Struffert stressed that one of the problems with the area plan is the process.
Jane Countryman reviewed the notice which had been mailed to the residents. She expressed concern that the goals appear contradictory in that preserving the area and easement into new economic activities are two goals at cross-purposes with each other, in her opinion.
A lengthy discussion followed regarding the residents’ frustration with the area plan process. Commissioner Humke will be notified of this evening’s decision to support the letter.
Debbie Sheltra moved that there be enough time given that both working groups can get back to the next CAB meeting that they have scheduled, and that the community can comment on what the working group can present at that CAB meeting and that we can then take those comments to the joint meeting. That the joint meeting be held up until both CABs have a chance to do that. Jane Countryman seconded the motion. Discussion followed. Motion carried unanimously.
 

Notes on the upcoming South Valleys Area Plan Meeting of July 19th, 2006

Correspondents comments:  This sounds to us like we will only get this one chance for more input.  But the groups feel there is still much to be done on the plan.  Especially since the Reno/Sparks/WC amendment has been accepted by the Regional Planning Commission.  There are changes in the amendment that effect everyone; concurrency (infrastructure has to be there before approval), TMSA (WC's service area is overextended), SOI (Reno's sphere of influence & TMSA boundaries move together).  So for the east side this means we need to be even more diligent in keeping our water supply healthy.  Our plan needs lower density lots (1 unit/10 acs), because if we overbuild and our wells become polluted WC doesn't have the TMSA for us and if we need services they would have to come from Reno, putting us in the SOI.  Our plan should require a proven water supply and proven septic plan before any zoning changes on large parcels.  Large parcel subdivisions that cluster units must dedicate the remaining land to open space, be it public or private open space.  Large parcels must not have zoning changes written into the area plan because that bypasses all the planning laws, many of them are state laws NRS's.  Even though the east WV group kept meeting and working on the plan after it was put on hold, we had no representative planner from Community Development attending our meetings for a whole year.  The planner, Eric Young, is supposed to be helping us with language and ideas on how to accomplish our goals.  We need more working meetings with planner Eric Young.
 

South Valleys Area Plan Update Meeting

A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19th to update the communities in Pleasant Valley and Washoe Valley on the progress in putting together the plan. Planner Eric Young is looking for reaction and input to the plan. The meeting will commence at 6:30pm and run until 8:30pm at the Pleasant Valley School.

South Valleys Area Plan Timeline
reader submitted-ed July 10, 2006

This timeline was included in a recent letter sent by the East & West Area Plan Working Groups to Commissioner Humke and copied to a whole bunch of others.-ed

2004
Fall of 2004, the Dept. of Community Development requested volunteers to participate in the South Valleys Area Plan update.
• November 2004, volunteer working groups and WC planners began working on the plan.
• Multiple working groups were formed consisting of West Washoe Valley, East Washoe Valley, and Pleasant Valley.
• November 2004 - July 2005, formal meetings with WC Planners Eric Young and/or Jan Sei, the individual CABs, and the volunteer working groups were held on a regular basis.
• Decisions were made on ten separate Study Areas.
• Working groups met with planners Jan Sei on the Historic District Commercial plan, and Kristine Bunnell on the Parks, Trails and Recreation plan. These plans were completed on schedule.
• Working group volunteers were encouraged to form small groups to work on the plan independently. A loosely formed East Washoe Valley group met weekly organizing the working group’s comments and input into a comprehensive area plan for Washoe Valley.
• Eric Young’s Status Report: South Valleys Plan to be completed by the end of June 2005 and a Planning Commission target date of August/September 2005.
• A boundary change between the South Valleys and the Forest Area Plans expanded the West Washoe Valley CAB area which now extends to meet the Incline Village CAB boundary line. This area, WV’s view-shed and watershed, was to be included in the SV Area Plan. Whether WV will be allowed input for this area is now questionable.
• April 25, 2005, Eric submitted to the working group a first draft of his version of the Washoe Valley Plan.
• May 23, 2005, after comments and edits from the full working group, the group’s version of the Washoe Valley Plan, including our own Vision & Character Statement, was merged with Eric’s version Draft 1 and resubmitted.
• Eric Young was present at one more meeting, then the South Valleys Area Plan was shelved and, although we continued to meet, Eric no longer attended our 2005 meetings.

2006
• February 2006, Assistant WC Manager Michele Poché was notified that we have had neither communication nor results from our planner. She looked into the extended delay of the Area Plan and communicated to us that she had consulted with Eric Young and he would be forthcoming with his work on our plan.
• February - June 2006, Eric attended a few CAB meeting and promised results.
• June 22, 2006, more than one year since Washoe Valley’s update plan was submitted, we have yet to see any evidence of a draft of our area plan that includes any of the South Valley groups input.

May 16, 2006 Meeting of the West Washoe Valley Community Advisory Board (WWVCAB) exerpt:

Area Plan Update – Hans Struffert stated that he is very frustrated with the delays in the process and that Eric Young does not respond to his e-mails requesting an update. Debbie Sheltra stated for the record that both Mike Harper and Eric Young told her that major stakeholders would have to attend the meetings to effect the plan and not meet secretly with staff and not come to the public hearings. They promised her that this would be held true. Ms. Sheltra stated that the only way local residents would not like the plan would be because major stakeholders met privately with staff and had more influence with staff. Hans Struffert stated for the record that what is happening is an insult to local residents. Jane Countryman stated that south valley residents have been let down by staff and have not been kept in the planning process. Karena Miller stated that she will take the concerns back to staff and mentioned that the North Valleys plan went before the Planning Commission with several unhappy north valleys citizens. The plan was sent back to the community for changes. The Planning Commission held a joint meeting with the NVCAB to address the concerns. Ms. Miller stated that citizen’s voices do matter and the plan will be brought back to the community for review and recommendations. Ms. Countryman stated concern that staff does not provide the draft to residents with sufficient time to review the document and offer comments. Ms. Sheltra asked why citizens would need to fight staff to draft a plan that is compatible with the working group and community. Ms. Miller stated that the process is to bring the draft back to the working group and community for comments and recommendations. Rod Smith stated concern that the community had three months to make their plan and that staff has had months without any response back to the community. Concerns were raised that the south valleys plan needs to be very detailed in order to protect ridge lines and other character values for the community. Concerns were raised that both sides of the valley need to be compatible as to the character of the communities. Ms. Miller encouraged everyone to review the north valleys area plan which is available on the Washoe County web-site. Mr. Struffert stated that the plan is way overdue and they want to see something of the plan soon.