TMRPA finds Ranchera master-plan amendment conforms with regional plan; commissioners note local concerns

The Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency on July 7 found that the City of Reno’s proposed Ranchera PUD master-plan amendment conforms with the 2024 Truckee Meadows Regional Plan, following a staff presentation and public comment.

Team RPA planner Nate Kusha said the amendment would change a roughly 6‑acre site from Parks, Greenways and Open Space (PGOS) to Single Family Neighborhood. Kusha told commissioners the amendment is in Tier 2 of the regional form map, that public facilities and services are available for the requested density, and that the theoretical maximum density under the City of Reno’s SF‑8 designation would allow up to 48 dwelling units on the parcel.

The decision matters locally because the designation change removes an open‑space classification adjacent to Bartley Ranch Regional Park and enables future city‑level approvals that could increase housing density on the parcel.

Residents urged the commission to consider neighborhood impacts during public comment. Penny Whitaker and Audrey Keller, both identifying themselves as Ranchera residents, said the property had historically been equestrian and that residents had expected only a small number of lots (they said seven) on the former equestrian parcel. Keller said the developer’s materials showed fewer units than the regional‑plan maximum and worried that the “48” theoretical maximum in staff materials could be used later in city approvals. Nancy Baba said the scale of residential development proposed would be out of character with nearby half‑acre and larger lots.

Reno City Council member Megan Ebert spoke during public comment about constituents who could not attend in person and said she would provide further remarks during the city hearing for the related East Stonegate item.

Commissioner Valto made a campaign‑contribution disclosure on the record: “I received a contribution from Locust Development while campaigning for a different office. After consulting legal counsel, I am making this disclosure out of an abundance of caution,” he…