#It’s no secret that a lack of affordable housing exists in Winnemucca, but the Winnemucca City Council recently approved zone changes for different properties for the construction of apartments and a duplex.
At their regular meeting on April 18, with Councilwoman Ashley Maden absent, the Council approved a request on behalf of Western States Investments to adopt an ordinance, changing the zoning of property located at 5395 East Winnemucca Boulevard and off East Winnemucca Boulevard from a Single Family Residential property, to Multi-Family Residential property during a public hearing.
Pat Shoemer, the local contractor who will be constructing the housing, said that initial drawings of the property will allow for around 104 apartments to be built that will be a mix of three bed, two bath units, two bed and two bath units, and one bed and one bath units.
According to Shoemer, the units are not likely to be designated low-income housing.
“Low income is very complicated in today’s financial atmosphere, so we aren’t chasing any federal grants or anything of that fun,” explained Shoemer.
Entrance to the property will also be situated on side streets, as to not cause traffic congestion.
“We will be using the two side streets to access the property, that way we don’t create any more congestion on and off the road there,” said Shoemer.
Property adjacent to 5395 East Winnemucca Boulevard lies within the County, but a similar zone change request was approved by the Humboldt County board of Commissioners the day before and Shoemer said that the intention is to have the property annexed to the City so that construction will take place on both properties for the units.
Another zone change request was approved on behalf of Western States Investments to adopt an ordinance, changing the zoning of property located at 3417 and 3427 Crown Royal Circle from a General Commercial property to a Multi-Family Residential property.
City officials said that the developer, also Shoemer, had expressed interest in constructing a duplex on the property.
In other Council news:
• A public hearing was held to determine the fair market value of a 177.31 acre parcel west of the Winnemucca Municipal Airport. The property has been earmarked for a potential transloading terminal for Lithium Nevada for material for their Thacker Pass mine site in Orovada, NV.
Based on the appraisal report for the subject property, conducted by Commercial Appraiser John Wright, and the sales data for other similar properties, the value determined was to be approximately $250,000 for sale or $1,375 per month under lease conditions.
Councilman Mike Owens made the motion to accept the values, which was approved by all present members and determined that it is in the best interest of the city to sell or lease.
Mayor Stone stated that several council members were surprised at the low value of the land, despite its size, but there is no legal access to the property—it is isolated. Any potential buyer would have to build a road in order to gain access to the property.
The fair market value determination also makes it so that the poverty cannot be leased or sold for lower than the determined price, but bidders, if there are multiple, can bid more than the determined price, according to officials.
Concerned County resident, Christina Kenison, recited chapter 496 of the Nevada Revised Statute on municipal airports, insinuating that the Council was engaging in illegal activity by moving forward with the actions to determine value because the property was purchased a joint board of members of the Humboldt Development Authority, Humboldt County and the City of Winnemucca, despite multiple legal experts confirming that neither of the other joint purchasers have any authority over the property.
City Attorney Kent Maher assured that the City is the only authority necessary to sell or lease the property.
“The joint board does not own any land. They never have,” said Maher.
The effect of a potential terminal on the Airport itself was also called into question by a concerned resident, but Councilman Vince Mendiola said “I believe that as far as the airport is concerned, we are doing the right thing,” and Mayor Stone said “We aren’t going to jeopardize the Airport for a project we don’t think is going to be safe.”
• The Council approved a request that authorized the acceptance of Winnemucca Historic Preservation Plan, which was prepared by Kautz Environmental Consultants as part of the State Historic Preservation Office Historic Preservation Fund subgrant award.
• A renewal of a landfill operator agreement, lasting for five years, with Delong Construction, was approved, with contingencies placed upon the payment terms.
According to Councilwoman Pam Coats, who sits on the Landfill Board, operating costs have raised significantly for the Landfill, so payment terms have to be evaluated.
• A request to paint a mural on the bathroom building at Highland Park was approved.
Councilman Ownens said “I think it’s a nice opportunity to beautify some of our areas.”
• A public hearing was held at which a request to make an amendment to the City’s Master Plan with an ordinance changing the zoning of a Medium Density Residential/Medium Density Residential-Commercial property on behalf of Western States Investments, located off East Winnemucca Boulevard, to a Commercial property and was approved.
According to the landowner, “ the purpose is just that we’re confined on commercial space. It’s a trend that commercials are moving out that way and we’re just rezoning and trying to attract…restaurants and other retail stores at the national level to try and bring in national tenants to rent the property out.”
• The Council heard an update regarding developments of a new aquatics center.
According to City Manager Alicia Heiser, the design company managing the project, Knit, made a site visit and is in favor of locating a new facility adjacent to the Winnemucca Boys & Girls Club, which City officials are also in favor of.