Radio tower, riding academy decisions delayed

The Carson City Planning Commission on Wednesday unanimously continued hearings for a 62-foot-tall amateur radio tower proposed for east Carson and a therapeutic riding stable proposed for west Carson after receiving public comment with myriad concerns.

An attorney for the radio tower applicant requested the continuance.

“This is my request for a postponement of this agenda item, for the reasons we discussed (involving time for each of us to consider the applicable law), to Aug. 28,” Fred Hopengarten wrote in a June 24 email.

Commissioners obliged. The applicant, Michael Vicari, was appealing the Community Development director’s April 29 denial of a building permit for the radio tower proposed at 1630 S. Deer Run Road. The property is zoned single family 1 acre, and city staff cited current code that limits amateur radio antennas to 40 feet in residential districts.

Two residents sent public comments before the meeting, both objecting to the tower.

“I am adamantly opposed to the commission granting this structure to be built,” wrote C.D. Carroll on June 15. “The code that limits these to 40 feet is there for good reasons.”

After postponing the radio tower hearing, commissioners heard public testimony from numerous neighbors regarding a proposed therapeutic riding stable at 2170 Alfred Way.

The applicant, Tiffany Coury of Elle Equine, was seeking a special use permit for 3,702-square-foot detached barn on property zoned single family 2 acre as well as the establishment of a commercial stable/riding academy, which, according to the permit application, would focus on clients with disabilities, “physical, cognitive and emotional.” According to city staff, such an operation is allowed in the residential zoning district (accessory to a residential use) with an SUP.

Recommended conditions of approval for the project included no more than four therapy/lesson horses on site and no more than two clients at a time. The city also stipulated hours of operation be restricted to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and horse manure be removed from the property at least weekly.

Neighbors worried about conflicts with HOA restrictions, odors, dust, and traffic congestion on Foothill Drive, where access to the horse operation was proposed to be located. Many pointed out Foothill Drive connects to a popular trailhead. Some neighbors feared the responsibility of monitoring compliance with the permit and conditions of approval would fall upon them.

“It just becomes an extremely conflicted neighborhood,” said resident LeAnn Saarem, “and a very sad situation. So, it’s neighbor hating neighbor, then it’s community, and pretty soon our whole city hates each other, you know, in terms of just constantly approving conflicting uses in areas.”

Saarem emphasized neighbors want to be friendly with each other. Planning commissioners were sympathetic and wished the applicant were present at the hearing.

“Please, and this goes for the applicant as well, talk to your neighbors. This is an opportunity to work together, not against each other, to come to an agreeable solution,” said Planning Commission Vice-Chair Sena Loyd.

Community Development Director Hope Sullivan stressed horses are allowed in the residential district, including the four proposed, but the issue returning to the commission will be whether an accessory commercial use should be allowed.

The proposal was continued to a date uncertain.

In other action, planning commissioners unanimously approved a special use permit for a 12-unit multifamily project on the southeast corner of Stafford Way and Silver Sage Drive.

The project consists of three 4-unit buildings, each with two stories. The property is zoned neighborhood business and located within the Stafford Greens Planned Unit Development, according to the city.

A SUP for the project was approved by the planning commission in February 2023, unanimously upheld by the Board of Supervisors on appeal in April of the same year, but then expired.

Christopher Moltz of Heartfelt Engineering, representing Carson Luxury Housing LLC, assured planning commissioners the project would move forward with necessary permitting despite expiration of the previous SUP.