Planning Commission Denies Waste Container Business, Greenlights Other Special Permits

The Churchill County Planning Commission denied a special use permit for a proposed home-based business but approved several others during its July 9 meeting. Only four of seven planning commissioners attended the meeting.

The special use permit was requested by Taggart Garland for a waste container rental and pickup business at his home on St. Clair Road. Garland proposed storing two containers on his property behind trees, with periodic overnight stays, before hauling contents to the transfer station. Three nearby residents stated their opposition to the business. The staff report stated that the current A-5 zoning allows home-based businesses and recommended approval.

Commissioner Scott Nelson recused himself from the vote, leaving only three commissioners to vote. Victor Ansotegui and Joe Frey both voted for approval, while Mark Hyde was opposed. Because Garland did not receive a majority vote, his application was denied.

The Planning Commission also acted on the following items:

• Reviewed a special use permit (SUP) granted to Northern Nevada Research Co. one year ago for expansion of an explosion combustion testing facility in Hazen. Randy Hines, director of Public Works, Planning & Building, said all items in the SUP have been completed except for construction of the testing building, which should be completed by the end of the year. Commissioners voted to no longer require an annual review of the SUP as long as final conditions are met within one year.
• Reviewed an SUP granted to NV Energy for the Sierra Solar facility off Interstate 80. Hines said this is year one of a three-year project, and some permits have been obtained for road construction. This permit will be reviewed in another year.
• Carolyne Bolt was granted an SUP to operate a nail salon from a building at her home on Clover Drive.
• Veritas Preparatory School, represented by Amanda Hammond and David Ernst, was granted an SUP to set up three modular buildings at Grace Bible Church on Sheckler Road. The buildings will be in the same location as modulars previously placed there when Logos School operated from this site.
• Crystal and Nicholas Taliaferro were granted an SUP to add a 2’x5’ sign to their 911 Water business on McLean Road.
• Nathan Koyoma was granted an SUP to operate a wild game processing business at his Howard Place home. Commissioners discussed limiting customer hours but did not restrict Koyoma’s operational hours.
• Hines briefed commissioners on the proposed industrial zoning changes.
• LA Perks Petroleum Specialists was granted an SUP to reduce the road setback to install a canopy above the fuel island at Skip’s Market on Reno Highway. The canopy reduces the setback to about four feet.