Planning Commission approves Lampardee mixed-use development near I‑80

Planning commissioners voted March 18 to approve the Lampardee mixed‑use development, a two‑building project on a 0.89‑acre parcel northwest of Interstate 80 that proposes 8,123 square feet of nonresidential space plus two one‑bedroom apartments.

The project, presented by Chelsea Kreger of the town planning division, includes a development permit, a minor use permit for landscaping and snow storage within existing easements, and a sign plan that would permit one monument sign and tenant wall signage. Staff recommended the commission find the project exempt from further environmental review under CEQA Guidelines section 15183 and adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2025‑03 with additional conditions requiring authorization from easement holders before building or grading permits are issued.

Staff said the Lampardee property is located in the Manufacturing zoning district with a general plan designation of industrial and historically was included in a 2005 plan development and scenic corridor standards. “This project is a mixed use development with 8,123 square feet of nonresidential development, including industrial spaces and ancillary office,” Chelsea Kreger said during the staff presentation. The site plan shows two buildings, surface parking, bicycle parking and a trash enclosure. Building A would be two stories with industrial and office on the first floor and two one‑bedroom apartments on the second; Building B would be a single floor industrial building.

Kreger told commissioners the project proposes a landscape alternative allowed under the code, intends to meet the town’s water‑efficient landscape ordinance, and that utility and engineering agencies routed the proposal with no objections but recommended conditions. Staff identified a missing condition in the draft resolution and recommended adding a requirement that the applicant provide proof of authorization from easement holders for snow storage and landscaping within easements prior to issuance of building or grading permits.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about specific conditions of approval: whether future tenants would return to the Planning Commission, how temporary construction signage would be handled, trail alignment and width where a multiuse trail intersects the site, and whether Caltrans or other highway agencies had concerns about scenic corridor setbacks along I‑80. Kreger and engineering staff replied that the 2005 plan development requires the Planning Commission to be the review authority for future tenant uses on these lots and that Caltrans had been routed and offered no comment.

An architect who has worked with the project owners, Bridal Riley, spoke in support of the project during public comment, saying it “is a good fit” and that Truckee “needs to make progress towards our industrial square footages, our industrial areas.” The property owner, Joe Lampardee, and applicant representative Gavin Ball were present for the hearing.

After deliberation, a commissioner moved and the Planning Commission voted to adopt Resolution 2025‑03 as amended, approving the development permit, minor use permit and sign plan and finding the project exempt from CEQA under section 15183. Roll call recorded Chair Kavanaugh, Vice Chair Taylor, Commissioner Claren, Commissioner Toups and Commissioner Kauffman voting aye; the motion carried unanimously. The 10‑day appeal period was set to end Friday, March 28, 2025.

The commission’s approval includes the staff‑recommended condition requiring written authorization from easement holders for the proposed landscaping and snow storage within easements prior to issuance of any building or grading permits. Other standard conditions cover construction signage, submission of final landscape as‑builts, and tenant review requirements derived from the 2005 plan development.

The commission also noted that future tenant improvements would return to the Planning Commission for zoning clearance or minor use permits as required by the 2005 plan development. The applicant may proceed to address the conditions and apply for building and grading permits once the required easement authorizations and other conditions are satisfied.