Planning commission approves CinderLite five‑year review, adds drainage study requirement

The Carson City Planning Commission on June 25 approved the five‑year review of CinderLite’s special‑use permit for its expanded extraction operation, adding two new conditions that require a drainage study and, if necessary, construction of improvements before Nov. 1, 2025.

Staff planner Heather Ferris told the commission that CinderLite’s earlier conditions from 2004 and subsequent reviews have largely been met but that recent public comments raised concerns about storm drainage. Ferris said staff is recommending condition 27, requiring submission of a drainage study to the city engineer by Oct. 1, 2025, comparing current operations to the predevelopment (June 2004) condition, and condition 28, requiring permitting and construction of identified improvements by Nov. 1, 2025, if the study finds them necessary.

Steven Potev, development engineering, described the history of CinderLite’s prior payment of $125,712 toward road work and explained that the city later reprioritized repaving funds; he said the city plans repaving from Arrowhead to College Parkway in 2026 but acknowledged that the section from Kelvin to Avery remains in poorer condition. Potev said the timing for the drainage work and construction was set, in part, to allow improvements before the wet season.

Greg Gleeman, representing CinderLite, told the commission the company already conducts annual pit surveys with an engineer and holds a National Pollutant Discharge (NPD) stormwater permit. “We fly the pit once a year…we hold a lot of water, and you guys hold a lot of water, and you know we’re actually helping the situation,” Gleeman said, adding his engineer told him the requested study could be provided on the proposed schedule and that CinderLite would accept the amended conditions.

Residents and local engineers who spoke during public comment urged the city to ensure drainage designs account for natural runoff channels and sedimentation; one resident, Carol Gravely, said the existing road and drainage features show signs of wear from heavy truck traffic and offered to provide technical input.

Commissioners also pressed staff about wildfire risk and erosion in the area. Potev and other staff said the city has been doing proactive vegetation removal and coordination with fire department programs but did not say the permit review would change fire‑related requirements.

The commission voted to approve the five‑year review as amended with the two new conditions. The matter will proceed to any additional steps required for implementation by the city and CinderLite.