The Reno City Council ultimately approved a zoning change for the StoneGate Master Plan after the Planning Commission had recommended denial.
StoneGate was originally approved in 2018 and was set to include around 1.2MSF of commercial and industrial space, as well as an approximately 5,000-unit housing development, two elementary schools and a high school. At the time of its original approval, many argued in favor of the project due to Reno’s need for more housing stock.
The project was ready to break ground in 2021, but Heinz Ranch Land Company, the developer,held off due to economic conditions.
Heinz Ranch has since changed its original plan and is now looking to build 1,350 housing units and 12MSF of industrial space. Lumos & Associates is the civil engineer.
The zone change altered much of the zoning to industrial to fit its new plans. It passed on a 4-3 vote.
Developers said turning StoneGate into a large-scale industrial development will give the city the opportunity to compete with the booming local industrial market, such as the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. Developers are also projecting the development, at full build-out, will create 8,880 jobs, which is 6,600 more jobs than the original plan would have brought.
Opponents had concerns surrounding the housing crisis and creating a large industrial zone without specific projects planned. (Source)