The Carson City Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected three appeals at its meeting on Dec. 5.
Rejection of the appeals affirms the Carson City Planning Commission’s approval of a special use permit for the Vitality Unlimited Substance Abuse Center.
The Substance Abuse Center will be a 36-bed, 9.2KSF building at 1625 Vista Lane. The project is to be constructed on an approximately .79-acre site zoned Retail Commercial.
The site is a part of the medical park south of the Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center and is just north of the Silver Oak subdivision and golf course fairway.
Planning commissioners included a condition in their October SUP approval ensuring the project is nontransferable. This prevents another organization from taking over operations. Commissioners also required an eight-foot non-wood fence/wall to be constructed around the interior courtyard of the facility.
Supervisors modified some of the conditions and decided to add another. They stipulated the development must follow the approved plans as well as the project’s “operational representations.” Supervisors also altered the stipulation regarding setback requirements by removing language regarding the zoning of the adjacent golf course.
Supervisors added to the fence stipulation by enforcing the barrier to be screened with vegetation and natural elements. The new condition prohibits the facility from accepting civil protective custody clients.
Stipulations were modified to ease fears regarding the facility’s use for temporary clientele and the possibility of the facility bypassing screening processes and “operational integrity.”
Vitality’s relocation efforts have already been awarded $3M in American Rescue Plan Act state funding and $500K from Carson City’s ARPA funding.
Some local residents appealed the SUP believing commissioners had “abused their discretion,” and inaccurately classified the facility as a congregate care housing facility. They argued the facility should be labeled as a halfway house. Some were also concerned about the project lowering nearby property values.
Vitality ensured the facility is not a halfway house and the applicants selected for the treatment program are to be screened for prior incidents of violence and sexual offenses. The center is intended to be a closed campus. Vitality and the Planning Commission also determined the project would not harm local property values.
Supervisors examined required findings for SUP approval and generally agreed planning commissioners did not abuse their discretion.
The hearing reportedly did not include a public comment period due to the “quasi-judicial nature of the proceedings.” Construction of the facility could begin by late spring or early summer of 2025. (Source)
