There were many residents from the Silver Oak Development to comment on the Congregant Substance Abuse home on Vista Lane. There are multiple large homes on the South Side facing the golf course.
Vitality Inc, applicant, is currently at the Health and Human Services building on Long Street. The Health and Human Services department needs the additional space to provide services to Quad Counties. So Vitality has been asked to vacate for a relocation incentive of $500K using the City’s America Rescue Funds. Vitality has selected to build a 36 bed facility on Vista Lane using America Rescue Funds. Total project cost is $5M.
At the meeting, the public was told that the new facility would serve Carson City residents only. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the application subject to building a 8 foot opaque fence to shield residents of the facility looking at Silver Oak neighbors enjoying their backyard/patios. The Special Use Permit is not transferable from Vitality. Vitality said that they are looking at this site as a legacy project.
Vitality volunteered not to seek property tax exemption unless NRS required them to be property tax exempt. Chair Preston reflected on the residents’ view that yet another property will be off the tax roll in Carson City, increasing the tax burden on the few. I have asked the Assessor about Vitality Tax exempt status at this new facility. Assessor confirmed that Vitality can request a abatement of property tax which the Board of Supervisors can approve.
The proposed building does not meet the required setbacks (condition 5) which will be discussed at a future public hearing. The reason this agenda item was accelerated was because Vitality and the City was using America Rescue Funds which must be committed before December or lose it. If this Vitality facility does not get the required setback variances, the City can rescind their relocation guidance for Vitality.
The Silver Oak golf course is currently zoned residential and the Planning Department is proposing to change the zoning to open space for a Planned Unit Development – yes private open space. We first heard of private open space during the discussion of Andersen Development on Mountain Street which was approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2020.
As an example, the Commissioners approved the reduced front yard set-back requirements on 709 Elizabeth Street to 8.6 ft from the required 20 ft setback. In addition, if the zoning of the golf course is changed, the variance may not be needed according to Heather Ferris. Andersen Ranch on Mountain Street also received reduced setbacks from the approved Tentative Map.
You can listen to the video of this proposal at 1:10:53 to 4:02:31.
https://carsoncity.granicus.com/player/clip/2547?view_id=2&redirect=true
Hope Sullivan reminded the residents present that the Congregant Substance Abuse home on Vista Lane decision can be appealed within 10 days.
Other updates
Hope Sullivan reported on future meeting dates. The Listening Tour sessions that she will conduct on the Master Plan are on November 9th, 16th and 23rd (before Christmas).
Please attend at least one meeting.
A joint meeting of the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commissions on the resident feedback on the Master Plan on December 19th – again week before Christmas.
We need to attend this meeting to hear the consultant report on resident feedback.
