Fernley launches yearlong comprehensive plan update with community meetings, interactive map and steering committee

City consultants and staff on Tuesday described the outreach approach and timeline for Fernley's Comprehensive Master Plan 2050 update, a process intended to set long-range policy on housing, transportation, utilities and open space.

Fred Turnier of Matrix Design Group, working with Planning Director Michelle Rambo and project team members, said the update will be a public, two-year process with the first steering committee meeting scheduled for June 25 and three major community meetings planned for late summer 2026, fall 2026 and February 2027. The consultant emphasized a multi-platform public engagement strategy including an always-on project website (earlycmp2050.com), an interactive map for residents to flag issues by location, visual-preference questionnaires and focus groups for targeted stakeholders.

"This is going to be very public-forward," Turnier said, describing the master plan as a non-regulatory, long-range policy document to inform capital-improvement programming and development decisions over the next 20-plus years. He noted the plan will include traditional elements (housing, land use, safety, transportation) and supplemental items such as above-ground utilities and historic resources.

Rambo told commissioners staff will coordinate the commission's role in reviewing draft policies and conducting required hearings. The consultant said an existing-conditions report will be completed in July 2026 and adoption is tentatively scheduled for June 2027.

Commissioners asked about steering committee membership and how prior north/south area discussions will inform the work; staff said existing materials and prior input will be incorporated to avoid duplication.

The commission did not act on the item; it served to inform the public and solicit commissioner input on outreach and schedule.