Because of resident appeals, a proposed 273-unit apartment complex—the Plumas Redevelopment Project—is currently undergoing a 90-day continuance, leaving its fate unknown.
The multifamily development would be constructed at the former Lakeridge Tennis Club at Lakeside Drive and South McCarran Blvd., which closed in 2020. The tennis club was demolished shortly after closing. The new project is being developed by Thompson Thrift, with Studio M Architecture & Planning as its architect.
The complex would consist of two buildings located toward the central portion of the site. Building 1, the western-most one, would be split between four and five stories. Building 2 would be four stories. Building 1 would contain a clubhouse/office area and a larger courtyard. The southern end of the project would have a 9.5KSF dog park. The unit-count across the buildings will be made up of 12 studio, 121 one-, 124 two- and 16 three-bedroom units.
The maximum height of Building 1 would be nearly 56 feet high, but its four-story sections would only be 45 feet tall. Building 2 would match Building 1’s four-story height of 45 feet. Building 1 is to be set back more than 144 feet from Plumas Street and 112 feet from McCarran. Building 2, on the other hand, will be set back 83 feet from McCarran.
Access to the site is to be provided through two existing driveways. One driveway is located along Plumas Street, and the other along Lakeside Drive. Currently, there is access to the site via South McCarran Blvd., which is to be removed.
The development, as currently proposed, requires a conditional use permit due to its high unit count and the plans involving grading, which would result in fills greater than 10 feet. Landscape buffers would be increased around Plumas Street and McCarran Blvd. to, “promote pedestrian activity and preserve existing mature trees,” according to the submitted documents.
Residential Complaints
Residents claimed a four- to five-story apartment complex would disrupt the neighborhood character. Thompson Thrift has not commented on the continuance.
The proposal was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission last month but quickly paused by Naomi Duerr of the Reno City Council. Duerr stated the pause was enforced to allow the developer to speak with residents and alter the plans accordingly.
Residents were also concerned about traffic. The area was given a poor score in the developer’s traffic study. The traffic study also found traffic would increase by less than a second at the nearby Plumas intersection and by two seconds at the Lakeside intersection.
The Regional Transportation Commission currently plans to widen McCarran Blvd. in the area. The continuance will end on Apr. 23, 2025.