OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Washoe County Board of Adjustment Meeting Summary - August 6, 2026

Meeting Portal — Thursday, August 6, 2026
BodyWashoe County, Nevada
SessionMeeting Portal
DateThursday, August 6, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:49:32
Transcript — Verbatim
1:16

Staying informed just got easier.

1:18

Now you can watch live and on demand Washoe County meetings and content on Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV right from your home on your schedule.

1:29

As more people cut the cord and move away from cable, these new options provide a more flexible and accessible way to stay connected with your county.

1:40

Finding the channel is easy.

1:42

Just open your Roku Fire TV or Apple TV.

1:46

Search for Washoe County, download the app, and start watching live meetings, community updates, and more on demand.

1:53

Accessibility matters.

2:04

Stay in form.

3:07

Okay, thank you.

3:08

I can hear you, so we're good to go.

3:29

Attendees are the public.

3:30

We don't let them ever become a panelist.

3:43

And uh I'll be back after uh after the election.

3:46

Okay.

3:47

Yeah, good luck.

3:51

I don't want you walking around with sunglasses and these pretty nice silk tracks.

4:11

Okay.

4:12

So we're not gonna count them.

4:13

Okay.

4:14

So what we'll do is I'll announce it when I do a roll call.

4:18

I'll announce that.

4:20

Rock Pierce.

4:28

Yeah, we won't pay him.

4:33

Do I need to announce when I'm doing roll call the wrong?

4:37

Or someone else put it out there.

4:39

Okay.

4:41

Yeah, no last one.

5:32

Recording in progress.

5:43

Prior to the roll call at the announcement, but uh Vice Chair Rob Pierce will be taking a leave of absence.

5:52

Go ahead.

5:55

Going to go ahead and establish a quorum.

5:57

Leo Hirishny.

5:59

Present.

6:00

Kathy Julian.

6:02

Present.

6:02

Peter Gashan.

6:04

Present.

6:05

Pat Caldwell.

6:06

Present.

6:07

We have a quorum.

6:08

Okay, thank you.

6:10

If you'd all please stand and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

6:22

For which it stands.

6:23

One nation.

6:24

Undergone individually liberty and justice for all.

6:31

Thank you.

6:33

May we please have the ethics law announcement.

6:37

Deputy District Attorney Chaz Lennon for the record.

6:40

Um board members are reminded that if with respect to any matter or any person coming before the board today, you have received a gift or a loan.

6:48

You have a pecary interest, you have a commitment in a private capacity, such as a family, employment, business, or similar relationship, or you provided representation or counseling before an agency to a person or entity for compensation within the last year on our matter being considered.

7:06

You must disclose that gift loan interest commitment or prior representation at the time the matter is being considered.

7:13

And you must further furthermore abstain from deliberation or voting on a matter if it is clear that the gift loan interest commitment or prior representation would materially affect the independence of judgment of a reasonable person.

7:26

Board members are also reminded that under the Board of Adjustment Rules, if you had any contact outside this meeting with any persons interested in a matter coming before the board today, you should disclose the nature of that contact at this meeting.

7:40

Thank you.

7:41

Um the appeal procedure, Mr.

7:43

Lloyd.

7:44

Most decisions rendered by the Board of Adjustment are appealable to the Board of County Commissioners.

7:48

If you disagree with the decision of the Board of Adjustment and qualify as an agreed person or party, you may appeal in writing within 10 calendar days from the date that the decision being appealed is reduced to writing.

7:59

Filed with the Secretary of the Board of Adjustment and mailed to the original applicant in the proceeding being appealed in accordance with Washoe County Code.

8:06

Please call the planning staff immediately at 775-328-610 for information on the appeal procedure and the application fee.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Code Review███████████████████████████27%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████13%
Equine Ordinance██████████10%
Technology and Innovation█████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Public Engagement███████7%
Wildlife Conservation██2%
Public Comment██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Washoe County Board of Adjustment Meeting - August 6, 2026

The Washoe County Board of Adjustment met on August 6, 2026, at 9:30 AM to consider several special use permit applications and an amendment of conditions. The board approved all four special use permits and one amendment, with some modifications to the requested timeline. The meeting was chaired by Peter Gashan, with Vice Chair Rob Pierce on a leave of absence.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the August 6, 2026 agenda unanimously.
  • Approved the June 4, 2026 draft minutes unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Pat McMurray, owner of the Via Mountain property, spoke in support of the Via Mountain cell tower, noting he had worked on getting cellular connectivity for first responders and his livestock monitoring needs.
  • Tony Terramena asked for clarification on the location of the Diamond J property relative to Honey Lane and Holcomb Ranch Road; staff provided an aerial view.
  • Catherine Yarte, an equestrian business owner, spoke in support of Misty Blue's request, sharing her experience with the lengthy licensing process and the need for a reasonable timeline.

Discussion Items

8A: Special Use Permit WSUP 26-0012 - Via Mountain Cell Tower

  • Applicant: Comnet Wireless LLC on property owned by N Trust Group Inc. (Pat McMurray's retirement trust).
  • Proposal: Install a 100-foot monopole telecommunications facility on about 10,000 square feet of a 320-acre parcel at Zero State Route 34.
  • Staff (Jolene Bertetto) recommended approval with conditions, including wildlife-friendly fencing and dark sky lighting.
  • The applicant requested waivers for parking, landscaping, and noise/lighting standards, which staff supported.
  • Decision: Approved unanimously.

8B: Special Use Permit WSUP 26-0011 - Fox Mountain Cell Tower

  • Applicant: Comnet Wireless LLC on BLM land.
  • Proposal: Install a 100-foot monopole at 10140A Fox Mountain Road to improve ATT and Verizon coverage and FirstNet emergency responder broadband.
  • Staff recommended approval with conditions, including dark sky lighting; wildlife consultation found no residual impacts.
  • The applicant noted the tower is needed to connect to the Via north site.
  • Decision: Approved unanimously.

8C: Special Use Permit WSUP 26-0009 - Rattlesnake Water Tank Replacement (Truckee Meadows Water Authority)

  • Proposal: Replace a deteriorating 2.5-million-gallon steel tank with two 1.25-million-gallon tanks to improve redundancy and reliability.
  • Waivers requested for parking and landscaping standards due to remote, unmanned site.
  • An eight-year approval period was requested to manage four construction phases and funding; staff included this in conditions.
  • Public comments: None.
  • Decision: Approved unanimously.

8D: Special Use Permit WSUP 26-0007 - Diamond J Grading (Gistore LLC)

  • Proposal: Approve grading in areas exceeding 30% slope for a single-family home on a 4.3-acre parcel at 2359 Diamond J Place.
  • The driveway will cross steep slopes and start from a neighboring parcel (joint applicant).
  • Applicant noted two cuts exceeding 20 feet but within the building envelope, which are not subject to SUP review.
  • One public comment asked about location relative to Honey Lane; staff clarified.
  • Discussion: Board member Leo Horishni expressed concern about the driveway approach, but no formal opposition.
  • Decision: Approved unanimously.

8E: Amendment of Conditions WAC 26-0006 - Misty Blue (Scullard)

  • Applicant: Jerry and April Scullard, operating a commercial stable at 11065 and 11125 Chestnut Street.
  • Requested amendments to the original SUP (WSUP 24-0009): allow operation without a commercial structure, allow an ADA-compliant portable restroom instead of a permanent bathroom/septic, and extend the deadline to October 3, 2029 (three years).
  • Staff supported the amendments but left the timeline to the board.
  • Board discussion centered on the necessity of a three-year extension; applicant indicated conditions could be completed within 18 months.
  • Public comment from Catherine Yarte highlighted the lengthy licensing process.
  • Decision: Approved with an 18-month extension instead of three years, with conditions as attached.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved all four special use permits (WSUP 26-0012, WSUP 26-0011, WSUP 26-0009, WSUP 26-0007) unanimously.
  • Approved the amendment of conditions for Misty Blue (WAC 26-0006) with an 18-month extension instead of the requested three years.
  • Unanimously re-elected Peter Gashan as Chair and elected Pat Caldwell as Vice Chair for a one-year term.
  • No other board or staff reports; meeting adjourned at 3:14 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Staying informed just got easier. Now you can watch live and on demand Washoe County meetings and content on Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV right from your home on your schedule. As more people cut the cord and move away from cable, these new options provide a more flexible and accessible way to stay connected with your county. Finding the channel is easy. Just open your Roku Fire TV or Apple TV. Search for Washoe County, download the app, and start watching live meetings, community updates, and more on demand. Accessibility matters. Stay in form. Okay, thank you. I can hear you, so we're good to go. Attendees are the public. We don't let them ever become a panelist. And uh I'll be back after uh after the election. Okay. Yeah, good luck. I don't want you walking around with sunglasses and these pretty nice silk tracks. Okay. So we're not gonna count them. Okay. So what we'll do is I'll announce it when I do a roll call. I'll announce that. Rock Pierce. Yeah, we won't pay him. Do I need to announce when I'm doing roll call the wrong? Or someone else put it out there. Okay. Yeah, no last one. Recording in progress. Prior to the roll call at the announcement, but uh Vice Chair Rob Pierce will be taking a leave of absence. Go ahead. Going to go ahead and establish a quorum. Leo Hirishny. Present. Kathy Julian. Present. Peter Gashan. Present. Pat Caldwell. Present. We have a quorum. Okay, thank you. If you'd all please stand and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. For which it stands. One nation. Undergone individually liberty and justice for all. Thank you. May we please have the ethics law announcement. Deputy District Attorney Chaz Lennon for the record. Um board members are reminded that if with respect to any matter or any person coming before the board today, you have received a gift or a loan. You have a pecary interest, you have a commitment in a private capacity, such as a family, employment, business, or similar relationship, or you provided representation or counseling before an agency to a person or entity for compensation within the last year on our matter being considered.

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