Reno City Council approved zoning for 640 affordable and workforce housing units while directing staff to develop data center regulations addressing water and energy concerns.

THIS WEEK IN RENO CITY COUNCIL

Reno City Council approved major zoning changes, a sewer rate increase, and battery storage annexation while directing staff to review data center regulations.

THE BIG DECISIONS

• APPROVED — TOGO Grid annexation (53.49 acres for battery energy storage facility) — Vote count not recorded — Adds land northeast of Rio Wrangler Parkway to city for power storage and substation expansion.
• APPROVED — Clearacre Commons zoning amendments (27.32 acres) — Unanimous — Enables 400 affordable housing units and 240 workforce units required by purchase agreement.
• APPROVED — Sewer rate increase — 6-1 vote — Residential sewer fees rise $3 per month annually for three years starting July 1, 2026, for enterprise fund operations.
• APPROVED — Data center zoning text amendment review initiated — Vote count not recorded — Council directed staff to address water use, energy demand, air quality, and siting concerns without implementing a moratorium.

MONEY MOVES

• $287,500 — FY27 stormwater permit compliance and monitoring work — Western Regional Water Commission funding agreement
• $320,000 — Four-year stormwater and drainage project cost-share with Nevada Department of Transportation — $80,000 per year FY2027-2030
• $247,656.20 — FY27 water quality sampling and analysis contract — Balance Hydrologics scope of work (funding source not specified)

STILL IN PROGRESS

• Data center regulations — Staff to develop regulatory proposals addressing community concerns about water, energy, air quality, siting, and scaling — Timeline not specified
• Urban Forestry Commission appointments — Two additional positions deferred pending candidate interviews — Next commission meeting
• Council map amendment — Referred for second reading and adoption — Next council meeting

BY THE NUMBERS

• Meetings held: 7
• Items voted on: 19
• Total spending approved: $980,480.46
• Unanimous votes: 6
• Contested votes: 1

PULSE QUESTION

QUESTION: Should Reno add 400 affordable housing units at Clearacre Commons or slow development until infrastructure improves?

OPTIONS: ["Build all 400 units now", "Build in phases over time", "Need more community input"]

TAGS

Housing, Budget, Infrastructure, Zoning, Environment, Governance

Meetings This Week