Developers will present plans to the Board of Supervisors today to build duplexes and houses along Lepire Drive despite a thumbs down from the Carson City Planning Commission and strong objections from neighbors.
Sherry and Mark Funk of Gardnerville said their plans to build on the weed-filled lot east of a metal processing shop, auto paint and masonry company will benefit the city.
"It's going to definitely add to the area," Sherry Funk said. "They're going to be very nice units. And they'll be in the price range that people in Carson City are crying for."
Sundance Ridge subdivision proposal calls for building 35 duplexes and five single-family homes on a hill overlooking Mexican Ditch to the east and a scenic view of mountains to the west.
The homes will sell for between $155,000 and $160,000 and the duplexes will be priced in the range of $300,000 to $350,000 with two homes each, Funk said.
The plan requires the city to change the land designation from general industrial and low-density residential to multi-family duplex, single-family residential, high-density residential and medium-density residential.
If the project and land designation changes are denied, the owners said they may use the land to develop industrial buildings.
"What we would do would be something conforming," Funk said. "This is where you put anything that provides noxious odors and noises that are undesirable in other parts of the city."
Homeowners along Lepire Drive voiced strong opposition to plans brought before the Planning Commission last month.
The developers are asking the city to reduce house lot sizes in the area to allow homes on lots nearly one-fourth the size currently allowed - from 21,000 square feet to 6,000.
"We moved to this neighborhood because of the large lot size and quiet neighborhood ... That will change if the current plan is approved," said Mark and Denise Ramsey, residents of Lepire Drive, in a letter to the city in July.
Community Development Director Walt Sullivan said staff is recommending supervisors deny the subdivision proposal. Five commissioners voted against the plans in September, but it is automatically sent to the board for a final decision.
The development must meet or exceed city open space requirements, Sullivan said.
According to the plans, the project will include pieces of open space in areas around the perimeter. The city would like to see the open space combined and in a central location.
"The biggest issue is where the open space is going to be," Sullivan said. "We're just asking it have some turf, but it's important to be in the middle instead of peripheral left-over spaces for open space."
The project was sent back after first being presented to the planning commission in July to give the applicant time to work with surrounding property owners and staff to address concerns.
"There were some issues with adjacent neighbors and in watching the (planning commission) meeting, I don't know if a lot of the neighbors' concerns were incorporated into the final plan," Sullivan said.
Carson City School District Director of Operations Mike Mitchell estimates the new housing will bring 15 to 50 new students to Empire Elementary, nine to 50 new students to Eagle Valley Middle School and 12 to 50 students to Carson High School.
Accommodating the new students would require increasing either the square footage of the facilities, student-teacher ration or schedule changes to multi-track year round or double sessions, Mitchell said.
Supervisors can accept the developer plans today and let the project move forward or refer it back to the Planning Commission, Sullivan said.
