Supervisors send back housing plan for further review

Echoing safety concerns raised by residents about a plan for housing along Combs Canyon, the Board of Supervisors on Thursday asked that the concept be reexamined and brought back to them next month.

Combs Canyon ll would consist of 19 single-family homes on 25 acres north of Timberline Road and east of Combs Canyon Road.

"It's like developing on a crust of bread," said Supervisor Shelly Aldean about the long and relatively narrow site that allows driveways to point out to Combs Canyon Road.

The road is narrow and the plan would allow a walking trail and bike path to run along the front of the properties. Parking wouldn't be allowed along the street but no off-street guest parking is included.

Cars already cross the double yellow line to provide room for bicyclists along the road and as more home development occurs in the area, Combs Canyon Road "is going to become a nightmare," said resident Bruce Kittess.

He and other residents have also stated that the road becomes treacherous during winter because of ice.

While it would be required that people in the homes not park along the street "the city won't enforce CC&Rs," said Mary Fischer, another resident. "That leaves it to the neighbors."

Each driveway, however, has a cutout that would allow a vehicle to pull off. This would keep residents from backing their cars into the road and provide delivery vehicles a place to park briefly, said Randall Long, of Lumos & Associates in Carson City.

"Except if (someone) puts a travel trailer in that spot," said Mayor Marv Teixeira. "There's going to be some problems."

Combs Canyon l, approved in September with little opposition, will bring 25 homes to a 57-acre site nearby.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.

Lighting ordinance OK'd by board

The Board of Supervisors gave initial approval to an update of the city's lighting ordinance. It will come back for final approval later.

The rules were updated to provide more protection against glare and to keep the night sky dark so stars will be visible.

Mayor Marv Teixeira said he understood the reasoning behind the ordinance but thought that historic and prominent buildings should be highlighted with soft lighting to promote the city's attributes.

A resident also argued that the grandfather clause should be removed because some businesses shouldn't be allowed to pollute the sky with extra light indefinitely.

Ronni Hannaman, executive director of the Carson City Area Chamber of Commerce, then reminded the supervisors that businesses exempted include car dealerships, which contribute "40 percent of our sales tax revenue."