Reno Planning Commission grants 2-year extension for Stan Lucas Mortenson Ranch tentative map

The Reno City Planning Commission unanimously approved a two-year extension on the Stan Lucas Mortenson Ranch tentative map on Dec. 17, 2025, extending the deadline to file an initial final map from Jan. 27, 2026, to Jan. 27, 2028.

Jeff Foster, associate planner, told the commission the tentative map was approved by decision letter on Jan. 27, 2022, and that state law provides a four-year period for recording the first final map. Foster said staff believes good cause exists for an extension under NRS 278.36(1)(c) because the property—s owner, Stan Lucas (the sole member of Lucas Verdi LLC), died Jan. 10, and the estate and successor trustees have been working to resolve financing and other issues. "In essence, if you approve it, you are moving to approve a 2 year time extension on the Stan Lucas Mortenson Ranch tentative map subject to the original conditions of approval," Foster said.

Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant—s representative on how far the project had progressed. Commissioners noted an "initial final map" for 31 lots had been submitted in October 2024 as the first phase of an overall, phased entitlement that contemplates roughly 632 single-family lots. Donald Smith, speaking for the applicant, said the Kinder Morgan pipeline bisects the property and that financing is not yet in place. "We don't have any financing on any of our projects," Smith said, noting trustees appointed after Lucas—s death lack development experience and are working through the estate's obligations. He told the commission the trustees likely need two years to sell the property or otherwise resolve financing.

Staff clarified the tentative map is an entitlement that "runs with the land" and that the two-year extension would preserve the existing conditions of approval; significant deviations from the approved tentative map would require an amendment and return to the commission. Commissioners also read condition 27, which requires a staff-led stakeholder engagement process prior to each final map to verify substantial conformance with the tentative map and its conditions.

Commissioner Delviar moved to approve the two-year time extension for case LDC26-00026, citing compliance with NRS 278.36 requirements; Commissioner Ganpientini seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

The extension preserves the original conditions of approval and gives the owner or a subsequent owner until Jan. 27, 2028, to submit and obtain approval of an initial final map; if no final map is filed and approved by that date, the entitlement will expire.