In a contentious four-to-three vote, the Reno City Council affirmed Reno Planning Commission’s approval of the Plumas Redevelopment Project.
The approval affirmation stems from a 90-day continuance issued after the Planning Commission’s approval was appealed.
Thompson Thrift is developing the 273-unit apartment complex. Studio M Architecture & Planning is the architect. Thompson Thrift Construction is the dedicated building branch to Thompson Thrift’s multifamily developments and will serve as the general contractor. The development consists of two buildings that have studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Access to the site is to be provided through two existing driveways. One is located along Plumas Street, while the other is along Lakeside Drive. NVBEX previously covered the continuance and project details. (NVBEX; March 12)
Vice Mayor Kathleen Taylor argued that the development is less dense than it could have been, it was previously approved by the Planning Commission and developers had worked with locals to incorporate a design that was cognizant of concerns.
Traffic and Other Complaints
The opposition felt developers had not done enough to address local worries. Many cited traffic concerns, density and a disruption to the neighborhood character as reasons to deny the project. Detractors went on to discuss how the area is ill-suited to deal with an increase in traffic due to natural events like wildfires.
A completed traffic study 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. Another resident argued the RTC should instead implement roundabouts as they have been found to be more productive at combating gridlock and traffic stalls. Roundabouts, he stated, would allow for a continuous flow that could promote further development throughout the area.
Housing Crisis
Housing and rental costs throughout Nevada has become increasingly expensive due to a lack of development, according to a report from the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities. The report indicates more than half of Nevada renters are spending at least 35% of their gross monthly income on housing costs.
Since 2018, Washoe County has seen a 46.5% increase in its average rent price. Nevada’s overall lack of housing supply has led to the Silver State having the lowest volume of affordable housing units in the country for those making less than 30% of the Area Median Income.