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Commission recommends industrial rezoning for 107.87‑acre parcel at Fernley’s northeast tip
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Summary
The Planning Commission voted 7–0 to recommend a master plan amendment (resolution 26‑002) and zoning change (bill 381) to reclassify a roughly 107.87‑acre parcel near I‑80 from General Rural (GR20) to Industrial, with the applicant and staff saying the change aligns with adjacent Victory Logistics development and constrained access makes residential uses impractical.
The Fernley Planning Commission on March 11 voted unanimously to recommend that City Council adopt a master plan amendment (Resolution 26‑002) and a zoning map amendment (Bill 381) to change a roughly 107.87‑acre triangular parcel at the city’s northeast edge from General Rural (GR20) to Industrial.
Planning Director Michelle Rambo summarized staff analysis, saying the parcel’s nearest developable neighbor is the Victory Logistics District and that surrounding constraints — Interstate 80 and Bureau of Reclamation open space — limit access and make industrial uses the logical match. Public notice for the item was published in the Reno Gazette‑Journal in February, and city staff said additional council hearings are scheduled in April.
Applicant planning manager Dave Snellgrove of Bowman Consulting Group described the site constraints and argued that industrial zoning would be consistent with adjacent industrial uses in the Victory Logistics area and that heavier or specialized uses would require conditional use permits. He noted that access would be routed through the existing Victory Logistics area rather than via I‑80 or BOR property.
Commissioners asked procedural and substantive questions: Commissioner Wagner asked whether energy generation would require a conditional use permit (the applicant confirmed it would). Commissioner Flores inquired about setback or barrier requirements adjacent to I‑80; the applicant said NDOT and other agency requirements and conditional‑use design review would address highway setbacks and mitigation. Commissioner Vanderheiden moved and Commissioner Flores seconded a motion to recommend approval; the commission voted 7–0.
Next steps: The Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for additional hearings in April. Staff said the master plan amendment (resolution) and zoning ordinance (bill) are separate actions: the master plan amendment is a resolution and the zone change will be processed as an ordinance.
