Carson City Planning Commissioners Discuss Updated Master Plan

The Carson City Planning Commission met on Jan. 29 to discuss Chapter 12 of the updated Carson City Master Plan.

The chapter contains elements tied to the plan’s overall goals. Members of the public were able to watch the commissioners’ discussion.

The Master Plan would keep the downtown mixed-use designation for the downtown corridor. Corridor mixed-use is a new land-use category for major corridors like Highway 50 and includes general commercial, retail commercial, tourist commercial and multifamily apartment zoning.

During the meeting, commissioners decided to alter some of the wording. Originally, the plan intended to “establish an economic development champion in the city.” Commissioners altered the phrasing to use the word “role” instead of “champion”.

Other elements of the chapter were expanded to include a broader array of developments. For example, one of the goals was to attract and keep retailers in the city. Commissioners opted to change the wording to not specify retailers and instead reference all businesses.

Other items, such as a phrase considering the creation of a “vacant building inventory,” were removed altogether. Some audience members spoke at the meeting with hesitation regarding the new Master Plan. Residents were concerned the updated plan would diminish Carson’s small-town feel. Most of the criticism was targeted toward the potential for high-density projects.

The planis returning to the Planning Commissionon Feb. 26 and the Board of Supervisors on May 1 to be finalized.

The City will send postcards to property owners in affected areas whose land-use designations may change under the updated plans. The period between the two future meetings will be used for discussion and refinement of the Master Plan. (Source)