Lyon County sets public hearing on Silver Springs Technology Park development agreement

The Lyon County Board of Commissioners on May 1 agreed to set a public hearing on a proposed development agreement between Lyon County and TRAC Capital Management LP for the Silver Springs Technology Park, a plan that would allow development of about 460 acres for data centers and supporting infrastructure west of U.S. Highway 95A and north of U.S. Highway 50 in Silver Springs.

The proposal, which staff said conforms to the specific plan the commission approved March 6, covers a roughly 1,070‑acre ownership footprint but limits the immediate development to 460 acres. County staff, the district attorney’s office and the developer described the agreement as a framework that clarifies how certain technical components — notably high‑voltage substations and a water tank — will be reviewed and built if the project proceeds.

The development agreement designates large‑scale electrical substations located inside the corridor identified by the Bureau of Land Management and the county’s 2021 master plan to be reviewed through the county’s Administrative Design Review process rather than through a conditional use permit. The agreement also describes an administrative review path for an on‑site water tank and confirms that public roadway improvements required for the project would be constructed at the developer’s cost and dedicated to the county for future maintenance.

County officials said the 20‑year term of the agreement reflects uncertainty about when sufficient electric capacity will be available to serve a project of this scale. The agreement will not take effect until TRAC completes purchase of the parcels, and the development team must provide two‑year progress reports to the county to demonstrate advancement, the county said.

“This doesn’t deviate from the specific plan,” Mitch Nelson, the developer’s representative, told the board, adding the agreement is intended to streamline review for components located inside the already‑identified utility corridor. Nelson also said reimbursement language is a code‑allowed mechanism that the developer does not intend to exercise “unless it becomes necessary.”

Gavin Anderson, Lyon County community development director, outlined other specifics staff negotiated with the developer and the district attorney’s office, including that any reimbursement for public improvements would require a separate agreement under county code title 15, chapter 15.120 and public hearings before the Board of County Commissioners.

District Attorney Steve Rai said the county’s liability exposure would not increase under the agreement. “I don’t think there would be any liability on the county,” Rai told commissioners during the discussion.

Planning Commission members had recommended the development agreement by unanimous vote. County staff emphasized that several discretionary items — building permits, design reviews and any potential reimbursement agreements — would still require separate reviews and public hearings before the county moves to construction or final approvals.

Commissioners did not approve the agreement at the meeting; instead the board agreed to schedule the required public hearing on the proposed ordinance that would adopt the development agreement. The ordinance and the development agreement will return for a public hearing and final action after notice and the required public process.

If approved at a future hearing, the project would permit data center buildings, substations and other utility facilities and would include provisions to address roads, rights of way and potential reimbursement for public improvements through a separate agreement process outlined in county code. The timing of construction will depend in part on availability of transmission capacity from the region’s electric utility, county staff said.

Next steps: staff and the developer will appear at a noticed public hearing to allow public testimony and for the commission to take final action.