The Lovelock City Council took a series of votes last week that will allow the Nevada Rural Housing Authority to move forward with plans for a 22-unit affordable housing development on two parcels located at the corner of Franklin Avenue and 8th Street.
The May 14 special meeting included four separate items tied to the project. All were approved by the Council, contingent on the completion of a positive traffic study and implementation of any mitigation measures that study may recommend.
The first item on the agenda was a request to change the zoning designation of the parcels to multifamily residential. City staff confirmed that notices had been mailed to surrounding property owners and a public hearing had been held by the Lovelock Planning Commission, which ultimately recommended approval. Council members expressed little discussion, indicating the matter had already been thoroughly reviewed. The motion passed unanimously.
The next two items involved variance requests tied to the design of the proposed development.
First, the Council approved a request to reduce the front setback requirement from 20 feet to 10 feet. This adjustment is intended to accommodate the footprint of the planned two-story structure. No conditions were attached, and the motion passed without opposition.
The third item request to reduce the number of required parking spaces from 46 to 39 initially appeared to pass in a similar fashion, but was later clarified. Council members returned to the item after realizing the Planning Commission’s recommendation for a traffic study had been attached to the off-site parking variance, not the parking reduction. After brief discussion, the Council amended the motion to reflect the correct language, approving the parking reduction as requested.
The most substantial discussion of the evening came during the fourth item: a variance request to allow the use of off-site parking along Franklin Avenue and 8th Street to meet the project’s parking requirements. Council members reviewed the Planning Commission’s condition that a traffic study be completed and any recommendations be implemented prior to final approval.
Beth Dunning, speaking via Zoom on behalf of Nevada Rural Housing, confirmed that a traffic study was already underway and would address any of those concerns. The Council approved the off-site parking variance with the condition that the results of the study be used to guide mitigation efforts, if necessary.
While discussion at the meeting remained largely procedural, the project still faces additional review steps, but with these variances and zoning changes approved, Nevada Rural Housing can move closer to construction.
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