Historic Resources Commission accepts Section 106 reports for Blackstone Ranch; suggests mitigation to avoid MOA

The Carson City Historic Resources Commission on July 2 accepted archaeological and architectural inventory reports prepared for the Blackstone Ranch development on the west side of Interstate 580 at the end of Railroad Drive, and recommended adding mitigation measures to try to avoid a formal memorandum of agreement under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Commissioners said the reports, prepared for review under Section 106, address potential adverse effects from a proposed extension of Railroad Drive through pastureland. The commission voted unanimously to accept the reports and recommendations as prepared by NCE Engineering and Environmental Services, asking staff to supply comments as the project’s consulting local government.

The commission’s discussion focused on whether mitigation measures could reduce the project’s adverse effects enough to achieve a "no adverse effect" determination. Commissioner Lou Anne Block suggested adding visual screening — for example a row of…