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Planning Commission approves Grand Sierra Resort arena CUP; conditions set for traffic, utilities
Summary
The Reno Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit for a proposed 10,000‑seat arena and associated parking and ice rink at the Grand Sierra Resort, with conditions addressing traffic mitigation, sewer relocation and transit coordination.
The Reno Planning Commission on April 2 approved a conditional use permit for a proposed Grand Sierra Resort arena, allowing a 10,000‑seat indoor arena, a 45,000‑square‑foot ice rink and an eight‑level parking garage on the northern portion of the resort property.
Commissioners voted after hearing a staff presentation and testimony from the applicant, the University of Nevada athletic director and the project's traffic engineer. Staff said the project meets Mixed Use Gaming zone standards subject to conditions requiring final traffic mitigation approval by NDOT, sewer‑interceptor relocation prior to garage permitting, and coordination with RTC and the Reno‑Sparks Indian Colony.
Nathan Gilbert, principal planner for Development Services, told commissioners the arena would sit on roughly 28 acres and include about 2,800 new parking stalls. He said project conditions (numbers 7–9 and 13 in staff materials) require a final traffic impact analysis, permanent directional lane alterations and NDOT approval of off‑ramp modifications, plus a sewer relocation and easement work before garage permits can be issued. "Condition number 6 ensures that all 2,386 new parking spaces are fully operational prior to a certificate of occupancy for the arena," Gilbert said.
Andrew Dis, senior vice president for the project owner Morello Gaming, described the arena as phase 1 of a 10‑year redevelopment that also anticipates workforce housing and other amenities. "We're really embracing our partnership with the university on this project," Dis said, adding the arena will allow University of Nevada basketball and larger concerts to come to Reno. Stephanie Ramp, UNR athletic director, said the university will work with the resort to bus students to games.
Lauren Chilson, the project's traffic engineer, said the traffic study models full arena capacity and the team has proposed physical modifications—including a lengthened pocket on the Mill Street off‑ramp and cue detection loops—to limit freeway queuing. "Condition 7 requires that we complete this process with NDOT," Chilson said. Commissioners repeatedly asked that traffic mitigation be finalized before vertical permits; staff noted the conditions require further agency approvals before construction permits are issued.
The commission approved the CUP by motion from Commissioner Miguel Becerra, seconded by Commissioner William Romero, with a unanimous vote. The approval includes conditions on NDOT/RTC coordination, sewer relocation and demonstration of parking availability before a certificate of occupancy. The applicant and staff said additional, detailed traffic and utility plans must be completed before building permits are issued.
The project will return to permitting stages for the required technical approvals. The redevelopment's proponents said they expect the arena to open in 2027 if the permitting and mitigation plans are completed and approved.
Votes at a glance: The Planning Commission approved the conditional use permit for LDC25‑0008 with conditions addressing traffic mitigation (NDOT/RTC), a sewer interceptor relocation and parking guarantees. The motion passed unanimously.
