Planning commission approves parcel splits, telecom colocations and a rail warehouse; schedules workshop, tables one business permit

Fallon — The Churchill County Planning Commission on May 14 approved a slate of routine and larger land‑use applications including tentative parceling plans, wireless antenna colocations and a proposed rail‑served warehouse, renewed an existing home‑business special‑use permit, and set a June workshop on proposed industrial zoning changes. The commission also chose to table one contested application for a proposed wood‑pellet production facility on McLean Road for additional technical review (see separate article).

Actions at a glance - Card Trucking LLC (SUP001068, 2555 Beasley Drive): The commission voted to remove the annual Planning Commission review requirement and leave continued compliance verification to the Planning Department/public works, effectively ending the annual appearance requirement after staff confirms landscaping and screening conditions are met. - Dead Eye Dirt Works (SUP001086, 3205 Brookside Circle): The commission approved a one‑year renewal of the home‑based business special‑use permit with conditions limiting scale (two trucks, a mini‑excavator/skid steer and a trailer) and staff review; motion carried unanimously. - Tentative parcel plan (PC25‑000003, Boundary Road / Bart Hyatt): The commission found criteria in Churchill County code 16.04.0.04(c) and 16.04.0.05 met and recommended Board of County Commissioners approval to divide a 66.54‑acre parcel into six residential lots with a 75‑foot agricultural protection setback along the north property line; staff recommended conditions including soil‑suitability and septic requirements. - Parcel map (PC25‑000004, Cardinal Drive / Alex(ia) Quintana): The commission recommended approval to divide a 57.4‑acre A‑5 parcel into four lots; the plan includes a conservation easement protecting a 30‑acre wetland/pond complex on the large remainder lot. - Cellular antenna colocation (SUP25‑000009, 25 S. Harmon Road / T‑Mobile): The commission approved a special‑use permit to colocate six antennas on an existing 100‑foot tower in the NAS Fallon overlay; staff noted recent Navy comments urging coordination to avoid radio‑frequency interference and recommended conditions requiring coordination and building permits. - New telecommunications tower (SUP25‑000010, 16799 Carson Highway / CC Communications): The commission approved a special‑use permit for a new 30‑foot lattice tower sited within an existing fenced equipment area; staff said the tower will be shorter than the primary existing tower and that no adverse Navy safety comments were raised beyond RF coordination. - Rail‑served warehouse (SUP25‑000012, 17127 Inlandport Drive / IRG Realty Advisors / Port of Nevada): The commission approved a proposed roughly 238,680 square‑foot warehouse and associated infrastructure at the Inland Port, noting that building permits, a new well/public water system and commercial septic/fire‑protection facilities remain to be permitted and that NDOT is reviewing a traffic study. - Code and master plan workshop: Staff announced a joint workshop proposed for June 24 to present a revised use table and proposed industrial zone designations (I‑1, I‑2, I‑3) for approximately 67 industrial parcels; staff said property owners and 300‑foot/30‑owner mail notice will be used for formal hearings when appropriate.

Why it matters: The approvals advance several land‑use changes that enable housing lot creation, expand telecommunications coverage near NAS Fallon, and support industrial growth at the Port of Nevada. The tabling of the McLean Road pellet operation reflects community concern about siting manufacturing near residences.

Key staff and motions Dean Patterson, Public Works and Planning, presented staff reports on parcel maps, telecom applications and the Port of Nevada warehouse; Randy Hines, Public Works Planning and Building, reported on notice and public comment counts for several items. Motions were made from the dais and carried by voice vote; for most items the commission recorded unanimous passage. The commission noted a 10‑day appeal period for applications it approved tonight.

Ending The commission moved several projects forward to the Board of County Commissioners or issued final recommendations where appropriate, scheduled a June 24 workshop on industrial zoning, and set the contested McLean Road pellet item for return after additional technical review.