Planning Commission rejects Stonegate rezoning; members cite compatibility and scale concerns

The Reno Planning Commission on April 2 voted down a proposed master plan amendment and rezoning for the Stonegate property in Cold Springs, rejecting a request from the developer to change land‑use allocations and substantially expand industrial acreage within the annexed northern valley site.

The applicant sought to dissolve the existing planned unit development and reestablish standard zoning with a major emphasis on industrial uses (about 923 acres proposed for industrial zoning), along with single‑family and some general commercial parcels. Staff and the applicant said the rezoning would both reduce the previously approved 5,000 residential units to roughly 1,350 and dramatically increase employment capacity, with an applicant estimate of about 8,800 permanent jobs under the new plan. Staff also said the proposed changes would lower projected trip generation, water and sewer demands and school impacts relative to the prior PUD.

Commission discussion focused on scale, compatibility and community impacts. Several commissioners said they were unconvinced the change to a large industrial footprint was the right outcome for that particular parcel and worried about paving the way for data centers or low‑employment uses that yield tax abatements without local job benefits. Commissioner Philip Rohrmeyer and others noted the City’s need for industrial land but questioned whether this site and the requested industrial intensity were the right match.

The roll call vote failed to reach the five‑member supermajority required for a master plan amendment: several commissioners voted no, citing compatibility and quality‑of‑life concerns. The applicant may appeal and the matter will go to the City Council regardless; staff noted the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency had not flagged conforming issues during initial review but that the project will require considerable interagency coordination if pursued further.