TMRPA Meeting Report

Meeting to be continued in two weeks

Like Yankee Hall of Famer Yogi Berra said, "It was like deja vu all over again."

The 6pm meeting opened to an almost full house as there were some empty seats this time. The meeting opened with a small class for new Commissioners, then an extended explanation of the role and powers of the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency. They basically said their role is not to review or judge other Commission actions but judge how the proposed project follows the requirements of the TMRPA. The South Valleys Development Review Committee (SVDRC) was prepared for this and planned the wording of their comments accordingly. (your editor is a member of one of the SVDRC Working Groups tasked with presenting a comment).

Basically, we had to insert language tying the requirements (findings) of the TMRPA to the Washoe County Master Plan (Envision 2040) findings that we found the Developers Application violated. We did that and were prepared. Other views are welcome here.

My gut feeling was the TMRPA was trying to set up a defense from the outset to avoid hearing complaints on the project that didn't align with their authority. Also to set up a defense on why they would have to acquiesce to the Washoe County Commissioners decision. But that's just my speculation.

Next the Washoe County planning staff gave a presentation followed by the developer. These were basically the same as at the two previous hearings in that they reiterated their grandfathered zoning, plan compliance and mutual agreement that its a great project for the community.

One point they always bring up is that in the beginning, back in the last century, there was a proposal for a casino, hotel and condominium tower for the property and that obviously never happened. They seem to want to take credit for "saving" us from that and building a much more benign normal high density subdivision. What role they had in that noble action is unclear. It might have just been economics or a developers wild imagination.

Since at least the 1920s there have been proposals for drilling tunnels from Tahoe to Washoe Lake, damming and enlarging the lake, surrounding it with casino resorts, etc. I digress, look for history articles on that in the future.

Back to the meeting. Neither the WC planning staff nor the developer answered to the specific 30 or so specific points brought up at the previous meetings demonstrating how the project application fails to conform to the Master Plan requirements. They just reiterated their zoning rights talking points and the vast amount of effort they have invested in the last twenty-plus years.

The attorneys developer, Doug, (I am not clear on the last names) admonished the Commissioners to abide by their own rules. He also notified them that even though they are going to hear from many citizens, "thoughtful and earnest" as they are, they are not evidence. This is a repeat of the assertion at the last hearings that citizen comment is useless , uninformed, emotional opinion.

Finally, an attorney "Bill" gave a presentation representing the citizens opposed to the project. He directly objected to Doug's assertion as "dead wrong" and related his own experience in dealing with public comment. He said the state had determined that comments by the general public ARE evidence and must be considered as such. He also asserted that despite the inference by the Commissioners they are not a "rubber stamp" for previous decisions.

He also contradicted the Commissioners assertion from the beginning of the meeting by reminding the Commissioners of a basic rule of the TMRPA that although they can't pass judgement on a previous bodies decision, the wording says they can if it helps their decision. The referenced rule is here:

Bill also went on to question the developers and county planning staffs testimony on sewer capacity and the lack of the fire topic in their comments and displays.

He concluded by reminding them that what happened in 2003 is not relevant now and they are to give honest, fair, and independent judgement on if the 5 TMRPPA requirements are met.

Public Comments Finally Start At 7:30pm.

These meetings start with general public comments at the beginning and several speakers commented on the Sierra Reflections Project. But at 7:30 public comments for the specific agenda item of Sierra Reflections began. It began with a couple from the general public then our slate of SVDRC commenters.

The comments continued to about 10:10pm until the Chair ended the meeting promising to resume in about two weeks.

The next two weeks will give me time to feature some of the SVDRC comments and give you a deeper dive into the issues.

The entire meeting is on YouTube at this link.