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County approves two zoning appeals, property sale and new rules; planners split on other rezoning
Summary
At its March 11 meeting the Washoe County Board of Commissioners approved two regulatory-zone changes after appeals, authorized a negotiated sale of county land to Renown Health and adopted updated rules of procedure for the board. One rezoning was reversed on appeal; another appeal was denied. Votes were divided on zoning items.
Washoe County commissioners adopted several actions on March 11, approving two regulatory-zone changes after appeals, authorizing the negotiated sale of a county parcel at 10 Kerman Avenue to Renown Health and adopting new internal rules of procedure for the commission.
The board voted on zoning appeals that had drawn extended public comment from residents of the North Valleys and Silver Knolls neighborhoods. On two contested regulatory-zone matters the board split 4–1, with Vice Chair Herman voting “no” on both zoning items.
The board affirmed the planning commission’s approval of WRZA24-0003 (the Silver Sky/Red Rock Road matter) — denying the resident appellant’s request to overturn the planning commission decision — by a 4–1 vote (Hill, Garcia, Andriola, Clark: yes; Herman: no). On a separate appeal (WRZA24-0004, a Lifestyle Homes proposal on Osage Road), the board reversed the planning commission’s denial and approved the applicant’s requested zoning change by a 4–1 vote (Hill, Garcia, Andriola, Clark: yes; Herman: no).
Separately, commissioners approved a direct sale of the county-owned parcel at 10 Kerman Avenue (Assessor’s Parcel Twelve-150-12) to Renown Health for $750,000. Staff noted the parcel had two appraisals that varied widely — approximately $860,000 and $2.6 million — and described the county-owned building as having a very low condition score. The board authorized a resolution of intent and set a March 11, 2025 public hearing on the sale; commissioners later voted to complete the sale by direct negotiation. The motion passed unanimously.
On internal governance, the board adopted updated rules of procedure for conduct at commission meetings, including new provisions on agenda preparation, virtual attendance, requests for staff time and communications standards for commissioners. The motion to adopt carried 4–1; Commissioner Clark abstained from that vote.
Other routine consent and block items were approved by the board without separate roll calls.
Why it matters: The zoning votes change the regulatory framework for parcels in the North Valleys and Osage Road areas and will allow development proposals to move forward to subdivision-level review and engineering scrutiny. The county sale to Renown funnels one small surplus parcel to a regional health provider; county staff recommended directing the proceeds to community-asset improvements.
What happens next: Zoning approvals change allowed densities but do not authorize construction. Applicants must return with subdivision or tentative-map applications that include detailed traffic, stormwater and public-utility engineering and meet Truckee Meadows Fire, Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) and other agency requirements. The Kerman Avenue sale will return to the board for a formal conveyance resolution after the published notice period.
