Supervisors approve Lompa Ranch subdivision

The Carson City Board of Supervisors approved a tentative subdivision map Thursday, setting the stage for 204 single-family lots on a portion of the historic Lompa Ranch.

The vote was 4-1. Supervisor Maurice White voted against the subdivision, concerned more public roads would add to the city’s road maintenance challenges.

The Public Works Department previously estimated the annual funding gap between revenue and current maintenance needs at $21 million.

“I cannot make finding 8,” he said, “which is regarding impact of existing roads as adding additional inventory to our streets exacerbates and compounds our already difficult situation regarding inadequate street maintenance. I cannot support this agenda item based on that.”

The tentative subdivision map called Blackstone Ranch Phase 2 focuses on roughly 59 acres in the Lompa Ranch North Specific Plan Area. The property is zoned single-family 6,000 and multifamily duplex, and the minimum lot size for the project would be 6,000 square feet. The 204 lots would be situated between East Robinson Street and East Fifth Street, southeast of Carson High and west of I-580. A new road, Matterhorn Drive, would connect Robinson and Fifth streets.

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong and the Board of Supervisors on Thursday recognizing Sgt. Brett Bindley, who has been with the office for 15 years, and Capt. Clay Wall, who has been with the office for 30 years. The city routinely presents length-of-service certificates. (Scott Neuffer photo) 

Planning commissioners recommended approval of the subdivision project in July as well as zoning changes for a 10-acre parcel and a 3-acre parcel in the specific plan area for public parks. Those changes for the parks were approved by supervisors Thursday. The 10-acre park will be on the west side of I-580 near the terminus of East Robinson Street, adjacent to the Phase 2 project. According to city staff, the park will be dedicated to the city, accessible to the public but maintained by a private homeowners association.

“Privately built, privately maintained, publicly accessible,” stressed Supervisor Stacey Giomi.

The Lompa Ranch was founded in 1936 by Simone “Sam” and Eva Lompa, who died in 1969 and 2003, respectively. In 2006, the property was included in the Carson City Master Plan as an area to be developed with mixed residential and commercial use. In 2016, supervisors adopted the Lompa Ranch North Specific Plan outlining development for approximately 251 acres on both sides of I-580 north of East Fifth Street.

Thursday, Supervisor Lisa Schuette had concerns about rolled curb being used in the proposed subdivision — as opposed to traditional L-shaped curb — as residents sometimes add ramps to their driveways, which is against city code. She said developers should be mindful of the community and consequences to the city “when it’s not super user-friendly.”

Mayor Lori Bagwell said residents using ramps has become an issue in the city. She said code doesn’t allow add-on ramps because workers need to be able to clean streets and plow snow. Plus, ramps can affect storm drainage.

“It could be something that we, as a city, are going to need to look at in our own development standards,” she said.

City Engineer Randall Rice said rolled curb is allowed under code with administrative approval and has some benefits.

“One is having a more traditional walking path without undulations throughout the environment,” he said.

Rice said rolled curb provides developers more flexibility in home layout.

“If they have a left-facing or right-facing garage, they don’t have to preplan those driveway aprons throughout the neighborhood, which can limit products being built,” he said.

After the hearing, Blackstone Superintendent Jeramiah Brown told the Appeal the rolled curb helps keep the sidewalks level versus driveway depressions in L-style curbs. Regarding the add-on ramps some people use, he said the homeowners association would likely prohibit those in the project area.

In other action:

• Supervisors unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with Storey County in which the county will use Carson City’s new office of public defender (CCPD), which was created in June following a staffing shortage of public defenders at the state level.

According to the contract, CCPD will provide primary indigent defense services and representation of indigent juveniles in Storey County from Aug. 18 to June 30, 2025, with automatic one-year renewals until June 30, 2035. For this year, Storey County will pay Carson a flat fee of $196,648.17, and $216,243.57 for the following year.

According to a staff report, Storey County has experienced similar issues that led Carson City to establish the office in the first place, namely staffing problems at the Nevada State Public Defender’s Office. The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution establishes the right to legal counsel, and CCPD was created to guarantee that right in Carson.

Bagwell emphasized for small municipalities, working together is necessary.

“I’d like on the record… that there’s no cost for us to enter into this on behalf of the Carson City taxpayer,” she said.

City Manager Nancy Paulson confirmed there is no burden to Carson City taxpayers for the agreement with Storey County.

• Supervisors unanimously approved a policy for public electric vehicle charging stations on city-owned property or right of way.

A new fee schedule would include rates of $1 per hour for the first four hours on a 240-volt, level 2 charger and $5 an hour after that as a loitering fee. For DC fast chargers, level 3, the fee would be $4 an hour for the first two hours and $10 an hour after that as a loitering fee.

The policy focuses on stations operated by third parties on city property and is designed to ensure EV users are contributing to road funding, according to a business impact statement.