Master plan, pot dispensary go before city boards

The Carson City Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission are scheduled for a joint meeting Wednesday that will focus on the Master Plan update before planning commissioners consider a new pot shop in the capital city.

The joint meeting starts at 2:30 p.m. in the community center, 851 E. William St., while the regular Planning Commission hearing starts at 5 p.m.

The Carson City Master Plan was first adopted in 2006 and sets land use designations for zoning and development in the city.

In October, supervisors approved a not-to-exceed $199,871 contract with Clarion Associates to begin a 19-month process to update the Master Plan. Adoption of the update is expected in spring 2025.

“The current plan was adopted in 2006,” planning officials said in a press release. “Since then, the freeway interchange with Highway 50 has opened, and there have been infrastructure improvements in the downtown corridor and on South Carson Street. Also, technological advancements have changed the way we shop as well as the function of the workplace.”

In December, interviews were conducted with each supervisor, with residents young and old and with representatives from local businesses, the airport, Carson City School District, Western Nevada College, Carson Tahoe Health and others “to understand what the focus of the update should be,” according to the release.

“Based on that input, the consultants are recommending a focus on: (1) factors that influence growth rate, (2) clarifying land use designations and policies for transitional areas, (3) revitalization along major corridors, (4) recalibrate land use designations to reflect changing dynamics of retail and employment, (5) define housing needs and the city’s role in creating and maintaining a diverse housing stock, (6) reinforce Carson City’s commitment to environmental stewardship and (7) strengthen local partnerships and leverage community assets,” reads the release.

Supervisors and planning commissioners will provide input at Wednesday’s meeting on the ongoing update. Clarion will also provide a draft of a public engagement plan. The current draft shows joint meetings, planning commission workshops and public focus groups throughout the year. For example, a handful of public focus groups are tentatively scheduled for April 10-12. A first draft of the update could be made available to the public by Aug. 19, with more public focus groups slated for the end of August.

“The board and commissioners will review this draft and provide input to improve the efficacy,” according to planning officials.

All questions about the update can be directed to Community Development Director Hope Sullivan at planning@carson.org or 775-887-2180.

After the joint meeting on the Master Plan update, the planning commission will convene for a regular session at 5 p.m. and consider a special use permit (SUP) for a new marijuana dispensary off Highway 50.

GTI (Green Thumbs Industries) Nevada LLC is requesting an SUP for a new 4,500-square-foot marijuana retail outfit in an existing building at 3060 Highway 50 East. Zoned general commercial, the property is the former Evergreen Gene’s garden store on the north side of the highway, west of Airport Road.

An ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2022 changed the number of retail marijuana dispensaries allowed in Carson City from two to four in accordance with state law. Supervisors initially limited the number to two retail outlets after state legalization of recreational marijuana in 2016.

Las Vegas-based cannabis company Qualcan initiated the ordinance change in 2022 and later obtained a special use permit for a new dispensary along South Carson Street, but that dispensary did not materialize.

Currently, there are two dispensaries in the capital city: Zen Leaf (formerly known as Sierra Well) at 2765 Highway 50 East and the RISE dispensary off Clearview Drive. The proposed dispensary would be the second RISE dispensary owned by Green Thumb Industries.

The city is proposing 17 conditions of approval for the project, including prohibition of marijuana consumption on site. The proposed SUP does not include a drive through or curbside services.

“If the applicant wishes to add drive through or curbside services in the future, an amendment to the special use permit will be required,” reads a staff report.

Per city code, marijuana establishments must be 1,000 feet away from schools and 300 feet away feet from any day care, park or residential area.

“The applicant has verified, and staff has substantiated, that the proposed store meets the minimum distance requirements outlined in this standard,” says the staff report.

• Planning commissioners will also review two SUP requests from Carson City Public Works.

The first request is for a 2,111-square-foot addition to the department’s fleet maintenance building at 3303 Butti Way. The parcel is zoned public regional. According to the agenda, the addition would house “tire repair, tire storage and welding operations.”

The second request is for an 8,025-square-foot office and warehouse building and for a temporary officer trailer at 3320 E. Fifth St., an area also zoned public regional. This project would house “offices and equipment to support Public Works operations,” according to the agenda.

“The proposed building will be located on the south side of the site,” reads a summary. “The applicant is also requesting placement of a temporary office trailer which will be removed upon completion of the requested building.”