Storey County planning staff outlines zoning-code updates, drainage and parking studies

Storey County planning staff provided an update to the Planning Commission on July 17 outlining several ongoing projects: a targeted update to the county zoning code definitions chapter, revisions to design standards, drainage initiatives and a parking and circulation study for Virginia City.

Kathy, the county planner, said the zoning-code work will focus on clarifying land‑use definitions that are duplicated or missing across the code and aligning Title 5 business‑licensing definitions with land‑use rules. She said the effort is not an overhaul but a targeted cleanup to remove contradictions and make permitting easier to administer.

Staff also described work on a design‑standards manual (for multifamily projects, subdivisions and neighborhood design) that county staff is refining to better reflect local conditions. Kathy said the county has not used the existing manual extensively and is working to make it more Story County–specific.

On drainage, staff said they have started a tricentered drainage review for roadside drainage channels and are coordinating with the Carson Water Subconservancy District on the Gold Hill drainage study. Kathy said Public Works is reviewing culvert sizes where driveways cross roadside channels, including at the special‑use permit site discussed earlier in the meeting.

Kathy said a parking and circulation study for Virginia City is underway, including a B Street survey to map right‑of‑way, property lines and potential parking spaces. Staff expects to publish survey results and hold public meetings to discuss possible circulation or resident‑parking measures; the consultant team has been collecting event and weekend data.

No formal actions were taken on these items at the meeting; staff said public outreach will follow as the studies progress.