The Planning Commission on Wednesday approved four special use permits (SUP), including one for an expansion of a medical marijuana dispensary.
RISE, the pot dispensary on Clearview Drive, applied for an SUP to expand into neighboring space and double its location size to approximately 2,800 square feet.
The item led to some discussion of recreational marijuana sales at the dispensaries, which the city has a ban on until at least Sept. 19.
But a representative from RISE said the dispensary’s medical marijuana business alone is necessitating the build out.
“Frankly, there are times we have too many patients to serve them efficiently,” Rebecca Gasca told the commission.
Hope Sullivan, planning manager, Community Development department, said staff reached out to the Sheriff’s Office for comment, but it had no suggestions for modifications.
RISE plans to move into space recently vacated by Dream Dinners, which decided not to renew its franchise license here.
The commission voted to approve the SUP by 4-1, with Daniel Salerno voting no, Charles Borders absent and one position still vacant.
The item that generated the most discussion was an SUP for a six-foot fence in the front yard of a home on Westview Avenue.
The owners installed the fence to keep deer out of the front yard and the city received a complaint about it because it doesn’t meet city code.
The fence is a three-foot open fence with multiple six-foot posts between which wiring is strung to keep the deer out.
City code says front yard fences if open can’t be more than four feet high.
The commission received several letters in opposition to it and two neighbors spoke during public comment, saying an SUP to allow a higher fence would result in a surge of applications for more.
Candace Stowell, the commission’s newest member, agreed.
“I won’t support it, I think it’s a mistake,” said Stowell.
“It sets a terrible precedent.”
The commission voted 3-2 to approve, with Stowell and Chair Paul Esswein voting no.
The commission also approved an SUP for the Carson City School District to build three additions on Fritsch Elementary totaling 3,061 square feet, expanding the school to 57,376 square feet, in order to modify access to the school, said Sullivan.
An SUP for Little Timbers Academy child daycare center on Old Hot Springs Road was also approved.
The facility is in an area zoned light industrial and has operated there since 2003.
A new SUP, which is required in that zone, needed to be approved for new owners of the business.