Developer seeks annexation, master-plan amendment for 161-acre South Virginia Street site

Representatives for the property owner outlined plans June 1 to annex a 116-acre southern parcel on the west side of South Virginia Street into the City of Reno and request a master-plan amendment and zoning changes to prepare the combined 161-acre site for future development.

Derek Kirkland of Wood Rogers, representing the applicant, told the Board Six Neighborhood Advisory Board the site comprises roughly 116 acres on the southern parcel and about 44 acres to the north. "The first request is for annexation of the southern parcel," Kirkland said, adding the north parcel is already within the city boundary.

The team proposed concentrating development on the flatter area adjacent to Virginia Street, designating roughly 39 acres (about 25%) for neighborhood commercial uses, and placing more than half the property (about 55%) into open space to preserve the hillside, Kirkland said. "We're actually proposing to reduce some of the industrial and have the commercial kind of align with the existing commercial" along Virginia Street, he added.

Board members and staff pressed the presenters on environmental and infrastructure constraints. Bill Newman, who identified himself as a land use planner, asked how nearby geothermal features might affect buildable areas; Kirkland replied that geotechnical studies would be required before any building permits and that much of the steamy geologic activity is broadly present in the area but does not preclude development where utilities and flatter grades exist. Brad Conway raised concerns about a native buckwheat plant on parts of the industrial parcel; Kirkland said mitigation is typically handled through state-controlled plans and that developers would protect or design around sensitive pockets.

Kirkland outlined the near-term process: a neighborhood meeting was held April 27 (he said no neighbors attended), the project is scheduled before the Planning Commission on July 1, and the annexation, master-plan amendment and zone change could reach City Council for hearings in late July with second readings possibly in early August. He emphasized there is not yet a specific development proposal; the requests would clean up boundaries and identify developable areas in anticipation of a future project.

Board members repeatedly emphasized preserving the hillside. "I do like that you are going to take so much of the land and keep it part of the open public greenery," said Board member Julia Moreno Fritz. Kirkland said the proposed open-space designation would prevent development on the ridge under city code.

The board did not take action on the annexation or plan amendment at the meeting; the presentation was informational and the applicant will return for formal hearings at the Planning Commission and, if recommended, City Council.