Washoe County Planning Commission Meeting - March 3, 2026

The Washoe County Planning Commission met on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Commission Chambers at the Washoe County Administrative Complex. All seven commissioners were present, establishing a quorum. The meeting was broadcast by Zoom and on local television. The agenda was amended to postpone items 7E (Enterprise Office SUP) and 7F (Master Plan and RZA amendments) to the April 7 meeting. The minutes of the February 3 meeting were approved with a correction changing a figure from "3,000 feet" to "500 feet" per a public comment from Pat Davis. Four public hearing items were considered and unanimously approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• At the beginning of the meeting, no public comments were offered either in person or via Zoom.
• During the hearing on Item 7B (Dierksen abandonment), Dale LaFrance, a neighbor of the property, asked via Zoom what the purpose of the abandonment was and expressed concerns about potential building in the area, noting they had lived there for nearly 40 years and the easement had provided access to BLM land. Staff clarified that the applicants had submitted a parcel map to split the property into four parcels, but no specific further development plans were identified.
• At the end of the meeting, no further public comments were received.

Discussion Items

• Item 7A – Abandonment Case WAB25-0008 (Florence Place): Planner Julee Olander presented the request to abandon Washoe County's interest in Florence Place, a ~49.5-foot-wide roadway east of 7495 Robert Banks Blvd. The original intent of the street was to provide access to a subdivision that was built without using that road. The adjacent property owner at 7505 Robert Banks Blvd. declined the interest, so the applicant (Maurice Shaylor) would receive the entire abandoned right-of-way. Staff found all criteria met and recommended approval. The applicant was present. The commission approved unanimously without further public comment.
• Item 7B – Abandonment Case WAB26-0001 (Dierksen): Planner Olander presented the request to abandon two 33-foot access easements (north and east) and a 13-foot portion of a western easement on a 2.428-acre parcel at 16000 Perlite Drive. A 20-foot easement was retained to preserve access to a federal parcel to the north. No phone calls or emails of opposition were received. The applicant, Sierra Dierksen, appeared via Zoom and was available for questions. Following public comment from Dale LaFrance, the commission approved unanimously.
• Item 7C – Amendment of Conditions WAC25-0021 (PSREC Transmission Line): Senior Planner Courtney Weiche presented the request to extend the deadline for obtaining building permits for a 2-mile, 69 kV transmission line from December 14, 2025, to December 14, 2027 (an additional two years). The original SUP was approved December 14, 2023. The applicant (Plumas Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative) cited delays due to securing grant funding and federal approvals, and a government shutdown in 2025. A building permit was approved in April 2025, but the condition requires issuance to a contractor, which has not yet occurred. No public comments were received. The commission approved unanimously.
• Item 7D – Regulatory Zone Amendment WRZA26-0001 (Mustang RZA): Senior Planner Weiche presented the request to rezone parcel APN 084-060-13 (624 acres) from 27% Parks & Recreation and 73% General Rural to 100% General Rural. The parcel is located at 12005 Interstate 80 East in the Truckee Canyon planning area. The Parks & Recreation zoning was originally granted in 2013 for off-road racing events, which no longer occur. The parcel supports aggregate operations by Granite Construction and adjacent property by Q&D Construction. No public comments were received; a neighborhood meeting had no attendees. Staff recommended approval. Applicant representative Melissa Smith (Wood Rogers) briefly spoke in support, noting the change would eliminate split zoning and align with existing uses. The commission approved the resolution unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Item 7A (Florence Place Abandonment): Approved unanimously with conditions as per staff report exhibit A, finding all three criteria under Washoe County Code Section 110.806.20 satisfied.
• Item 7B (Dierksen Abandonment): Approved unanimously with conditions as per exhibit A, finding all three criteria met.
• Item 7C (PSREC Transmission Line Extension): Approved unanimously with conditions as per exhibit A, finding all five criteria under Section 110.810.3 satisfied. The deadline for obtaining building permits is extended to December 14, 2027.
• Item 7D (Mustang Regulatory Zone Amendment): Approved unanimously via resolution, recommending adoption by the Board of County Commissioners. The chair was authorized to sign the resolution. Findings under Section 110.821.15 (criteria 1 through 7) were made.
• Items 7E and 7F were postponed to the April 7, 2026, meeting.
• The commission received updates: the Sierra Reflections tentative map appeal will be heard by the Board of County Commissioners on March 10, 2026, and the first reading of the attainable housing DCA (previously heard on February 3) will also be considered March 10.