Sparks council annexes Andolan Family Farm, approves plan-development handbook and related land-use changes

The Sparks City Council on July 6 unanimously approved a package of land-use actions to annex the 164.9-acre Andolan Family Farm at 8100 Pyramid Way into the city, change the comprehensive plan designation, rezone most of the property to a planned development and adopt a tentative plan-development handbook to govern agritourism uses.

City staff and the property owners said the approvals are intended to preserve the farm’s agritourism operations while allowing the southern portion of the property to be developed at higher residential density in a planned, phased manner. The council approved findings for the annexation, comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning and tentative handbook and ordered the items to move forward to final steps.

The farm owners, Cameron and Natalie Andolan, and their consultant emphasized the family and community history behind the site. Scott Carey, development services manager, told the council the farm has been in the city’s sphere of influence since 1991 and that staff worked with the applicants over four years on the entitlements. Eric Hastie of Wood Rogers, representing the applicant, said the northern 115 acres will remain agritourism and open space, while about 49 acres on the south end are planned for future single-family development.

Staff’s presentation included supporting details: the annexation request covers 164.9 acres and was submitted by 100% of property owners; the proposed land-use plan would reduce the theoretical maximum density on the site from about 9.17 units per acre under the existing plan to about 4.91 units per acre under the proposed plan; the tentative handbook requires a minimum of 50 acres of agricultural land remain and limits temporary festival parking on a field to a maximum of 80 days per year; and a fiscal-impact analysis estimated a roughly $8.6 million economic impact over 20 years with about $6.9 million in associated expenditures and a $1.7 million net fiscal impact over that period.

Council members repeatedly praised the Andolans’ community contribution. The lieutenant governor’s office and other public commenters filed support letters; the city clerk reported 126 emailed comments (125 in support, 1 opposed to a specific item) that are part of the public record. The planning commission had recommended approval. The council adopted the annexation ordinance (Bill 2833), approved the comprehensive plan amendment (Resolution 3465), adopted the rezoning ordinance (Bill 2838) and gave tentative approval to the Andolan Ranch Plan Development Handbook, requiring the applicant to file for final approval within one year.

The approvals include standard conditions: participation in the city’s impact-fee program, required infrastructure extensions for water and sewer (Truckee Meadows Water Authority and city sewer), and administrative or conditional-use review of future structures and events as required by the handbook. The council noted the handbook is intended to create definitions and operational standards for agritourism, a use the municipal code does not currently define.

Council votes were unanimous on each item. The tentative handbook approval included a finding that a performance bond was not required at this time and an administrative review pathway for most future changes. The public-notice record shows a neighborhood meeting held February 19 and mailed notice to property owners within 750 feet.

With the actions, the city and the Andolans said they expect little immediate change to day-to-day farm operations; the entitlements frame how the property may be developed and preserved over time.