TMRPA finds Envision Washoe 2040 master plan in conformance with regional plan, schedules minor additions

Jeremy Smith, speaking for regional planning staff, recommended that the Envision Washoe 2040 master plan be found in conformance with the 2024 Truckee Meadows Regional Plan with several scheduled additions to be incorporated by fall 2025.

Smith told the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency that Washoe County’s Envision Washoe 2040 (adopted November 2023) already recognizes several regional elements, including the county’s consensus forecast and regional housing strategy, and that the 2024 regional plan update mainly requires a few targeted additions. "We feel the estimated timeframe in working with Washoe County Staff to achieve these scheduled additions... is the fall of 2025," Smith said.

Staff identified short-term additions the county agreed to add to its master plan by fall 2025: (1) a short description of the resort service area mechanism linked to the existing Mount Rose Ski Resort designation; (2) a brief statement describing coordination and compatibility with military installations per regional policy; and (3) explicit recognition of the regional compatibility policy RF 11. Smith also said the Envision Washoe public facilities and services element already meets regional expectations and needs no scheduled additions.

On natural-resources policies, staff asked the county to memorialize use of the Natural Resource Consideration Areas (NRCA) toolset and to reference the integrated source-water and watershed protection plan (NR15). Smith noted hillside-development policies (NR6) and recommended the master plan reflect the county’s existing approaches to managing development on slopes between 15% and 30%.

Smith described one short-term mapping cleanup and a longer-term initiative: Washoe County’s set of master-plan land-use designations (a relatively small suite of categories) could be expanded or refined to add a mixed-use designation in locations that could support more density (for example, Sun Valley). That work would be a heavier lift requiring public noticing and is expected to proceed after the fall 2025 updates.

Commissioner David Johnson moved to find the Washoe County master plan in conformance with the 2024 Truckee Meadows Regional Plan "based on the findings listed in the staff report." Commissioner Rob Pierce seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Smith also reported that the agency will pursue several follow-up items raised in his report to the board, including development of strategic goals for the fiscal year beginning July 1, an updated memorandum of understanding and policy for school approvals, a review of the energy sector’s regional role and public engagement on that review, and hiring for an open GIS position. Smith said the agency may cancel its June meeting because of staff shortages and expects a fuller agenda in July that will include master-plan and facility-plan reviews for the City of Reno, City of Sparks and local school district.

No public comment was made on this item during the hearing.