Board of Adjustment OKs 4-year extension for proposed Washoe Valley fire station

The Washoe County Board of Adjustment voted unanimously on Sept. 4 to approve a four-year extension of time for the special use permit covering a proposed Washoe Valley fire station for the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District.

The vote followed staff recommendation and public comment calling for a short continuance so local advisory board members and residents could review updated plans. "I urge you to continue this matter until your November meeting to allow for that public input," said Thomas Daley, a Washoe County resident and former planning commissioner, during public comment. Legal counsel and staff said noticing requirements had been met.

Senior planner Chris Bronczyk told the board the request (WAC250013 / WSUP23011) is the first extension for the project, which originally approved a roughly 11,700-square-foot, single-story station with apparatus bays, crew quarters and ancillary storage on a six-acre parcel in Old Washoe City. Bronczyk said the applicant cited funding shortfalls and rising construction costs — noting a previously quoted station at roughly $10,000,000 versus a more recent station under construction with a price of $16,300,000 — as reasons for the extension request. Staff recommended approval after making the required findings under county code.

Public commenters raised two main concerns: whether proper notice was provided to the South Valleys/Washoe Valley Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) and whether Truckee Meadows Fire was evaluating alternate sites or designs. Penny Brock, chair of the South Valleys Washoe Valley CAB, said she did not receive an email notice about the agenda item and asked that the board postpone the item until the CAB could be notified and meet. Legal counsel, however, said notices had been sent by mail to listed CAB members. Daley said the fire department had discussed alternate locations and plans at a recent fire commission meeting and urged the board to wait for updated information.

Truckee Meadows Fire Chief Jay Suiak (on Zoom) said the department is "asking for an extension of the special use permit as it stands right now." He said the district is evaluating options and new funding sources but has not completed that evaluation. "If this project were to change...we would pursue that at a later date," Suiak said.

Board members debated whether a continuance would harm the process. Legal counsel explained that the board’s role on an amendment of conditions is limited to approving or denying the extension request based on the materials before it; substantial changes to the proposed project would require a new public process or a separate amendment to the existing permit.

After discussion, Peter Gishon moved to approve amendment of conditions case number WAC250013 for the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, citing the staff report and findings required by Washoe County code; Rob Pierce seconded. The board approved the motion by voice vote.

The extension preserves the existing special use permit while Truckee Meadows Fire continues funding and design work. The department and county staff indicated they may return to the Board of Adjustment or another planning body if the station’s design or site changes.

Votes at the meeting were recorded by voice; the motion was approved unanimously on the record.