Planning Commission recommends rezoning of Western Road parcel to SF-8 for potential infill housing

The Reno Planning Commission on Thursday recommended that City Council approve a zoning map amendment to change a 0.83-acre parcel at 900 Western Road from Single-Family (SF-3) to Single-Family (SF-8).

Jeff Foster, associate planner, presented the request (LDC-25-24) and said the site currently contains a single-family home built about 1940 and is adjacent to existing SF-8 zoning. Foster said the SF-8 designation would allow smaller minimum lot sizes and enable infill development consistent with surrounding properties while remaining within the master plan’s single-family neighborhood designation.

Resident Heidi Schenk spoke at the neighborhood advisory board meeting and at the commission hearing, expressing concern about potential “spaghetti” narrow lot designs, the preservation of mature trees and potential drainage issues because of an existing irrigation ditch adjacent to parts of the site. The applicant’s representative, Ryan Sims with Axione Engineering, told commissioners no formal development or layout was proposed with the zone change; any subsequent tentative map or subdivision would return to the commission for review and public comment.

Commissioners noted that a zone change cannot be conditioned and that the public will have opportunities to comment again once a development plan is submitted. Commissioner W. made the motion to recommend City Council approval; the motion carried unanimously.

The Planning Commission’s action is a recommendation to City Council; the final decision will be made by the council at a future meeting.