Planning commission to ‘correct’ old Carson City hospital site

Before the holidays arrive in full, Carson City planning commissioners will have more than a dozen agenda items to review at their Tuesday hearing, which starts at 10:30 a.m. in the community center.

As part of an annual Master Plan and zoning map review, Carson City is requesting a “mapping correction” of the old Carson Tahoe Hospital site at 775 Fleischmann Way. A proposed ordinance would amend the zoning map to change the site from public regional zoning to retail commercial.

The new hospital at the north end of the city is also in the retail commercial zone.

“The subject property is zoned PR (public regional), but is no longer publicly owned,” says a staff summary. “The proposed amendment will be consistent with the current use and ownership of the property.”

According to the Carson City Assessor’s website, Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare sold the property – 7.15 acres and multiple buildings – to CCNV Venture LP in 2008 for $20 million. In 2011, the property was sold to ARHC CTCRCNV001 LLC for nearly $29 million. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission listed the latter organization as a Delaware-based subsidiary of American Realty Capital Healthcare Trust Inc.

The main building of the old hospital was built in 1979, according to the assessor’s site.

“At its meeting of Jan. 20, 2022, the Board of Supervisors accepted the 2021 Master Plan report from the Planning Commission and identified the subject parcel as appropriate for consideration of a mapping correction,” Planning Manager Heather Ferris told the Appeal in an email. “This property was, at one time, owned by Carson City and Carson Tahoe Hospital, a county hospital of Carson City, and was the site of the hospital. The property is no longer owned by the city and today, the onsite uses include a behavioral health center, continuing care hospital, and outpatient services. Since a public agency no longer owns the parcel, the public regional zoning is not appropriate.”

Ferris said staff is recommending retail commercial zoning “because it is the least intensive zoning district in which a hospital may be located and is consistent with Carson Tahoe Hospital located at the north end of the city.”

The planning commission will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors regarding the property.

In other action, planning commissioners will:

• Review an application from Tanamera Construction for a special use permit for a 306-unit multifamily residential project on approximately 23.98 acres.

The property lies within the Lompa Ranch North Specific Plan Area located west of Airport Road, east of Interstate 580, and south of Menlo Drive, according to planning staff.

The property – two parcels merged into one – is zoned multifamily apartment and single family residential 6,000 (minimum lot size in square feet) within the specific plan area. A special use permit is required because single family zoning does not include multifamily use.

The planning commission is authorized to approve a special use permit.

• Review a proposed ordinance from Green Thumb Industries changing the location requirements to allow marijuana retail outlets and medical dispensaries in the retail commercial zone along North Carson Street, north of Winnie Lane and west of Hot Springs Road.

Currently, marijuana stores are allowed in general commercial and industrial commercial zones along a portion of South Carson Street and east Highway 50. Green Thumb, which owns the RISE dispensary in south Carson, has been trying to find a location for a second store. Strict location requirements for marijuana stores have been in place since 2014.

In November, planning commissioners voted 4-1 to recommend denial of a broader request by Green Thumb to open all retail and general commercial zones to pot shops.

Planning commissioners will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.

• Review a special use permit request from Resource Concepts Inc. for a parking lot on property zoned public, located at 604 W. Musser St.

“RCI owns contiguous properties at 340 Minnesota St., and 505 W. Telegraph St.,” reads a staff summary. “Both properties have served as office space for RCI. In October, there was a fire at 340 Minnesota St., and that property cannot currently be occupied. To accommodate needed onsite office space, RCI proposed to place temporary office space in the parking lot of 505 W. Telegraph St., and to utilize the contiguous subject property for parking. As the subject property is zoned public, the parking lot can only be established upon issuance of an SUP.”

The property is owned by the Carson City School District. In November, the Carson City School Board approved a parking lease agreement with RCI.

• Make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors concerning the annual Master Plan report.

Planning staff will present information about the Master Plan and possible future actions to planning commissioners, who will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.

• Will convene as the Growth Management Commission to review a request from Carson City Holdings LLC for daily water usage above 15,000 gallons for a proposed care facility at 4500 N. Carson Street.

“The applicant is proposing a congregate care facility and is requesting an average daily water usage of 15,700 gallons,” reads a staff summary. “Growth Management Commission review and approval is required for any commercial use that uses more than 15,000 gallons of water per day.”

Planning commissioners, as the regular commission, will also review a special use permit request for the same project. The proposed 356-bed care facility, which includes 12 caregiver apartments, would be in the retail commercial zone requiring a special use permit.