Planning commission removes two lots from scenic-corridor review; eases tenant approvals for Pioneer Industrial Park

The Town of Truckee Planning Commission on a unanimous vote approved a staff-recommended amendment to the Pioneer Commerce Center subdivision that removes Lots 4 and 9 from a 2005 condition requiring planning-commission review for small tenant changes. The commission adopted resolution 20 25-05 approving the amendment.

What the amendment does: Condition of approval number 7 on the 2005 subdivision required planning-commission review for land-use applications on certain shallow lots within the Interstate 80 scenic corridor so small developments would not reduce scenic quality. Staff told the commission that two existing buildings on Lots 4 and 9 had already been constructed and found not to degrade the scenic corridor, and that requiring commission review for interior tenant improvements discouraged leasing and was “cost and time prohibitive.”

Staff recommendation and vote: Associate Planner Chantal Brinberg presented the application and recommended the commission approve resolution 20 25-05, finding the project exempt pursuant to the cited CEQA exemption in the staff report and approving the amendment. Commissioner Claren moved adoption of the resolution; the motion passed by roll call: Chair Kavanaugh, Vice Chair Taylor, Commissioner Claren, Commissioner Toups and Commissioner Kauffman all voted yes.

What remains unchanged: Planning-commission review remains in place for the other lots in the subdivision (lots 6–8 and others) that are still vacant; staff said those lots would still require review when future applications were filed. Staff also noted the development code still requires review appropriate to project impacts: small, permitted tenant improvements remain subject to staff-level clearance where appropriate; larger or non-permitted uses would still come before the commission.

Ending: Brinberg said that if property owners of the other lots wish to pursue similar amendments they could request those changes separately; the appeal period was noted in the staff report.