A hotly contested development proposal northeast of the Reno-Stead Airport heads to Reno City Council on Wednesday morning. The city’s Planning Commission in January recommended that the City Council deny approval of the Prado Ranch project, which envisions development of 176 houses, 529 apartments, 3.6 million square feet of industrial buildings and 57,750 square feet of commercial space.
The plan also includes nearly 450 acres of parks and open space.
The project would be developed by Lansing Companies, a major development firm headquartered in San Diego, in partnership with Arcus Private Capital Solutions, a private-equity fund in the Phoenix area.
Neighbors who oppose the proposal worry that the development would worsen flooding in the North Valleys.
They also contend the project would bring industrial development into areas that currently aren’t envisioned for that kind of development. And they say the new homes would lead to crowded schools and roads.
The developers, meanwhile, note that the project would strengthen the local economy, as it would provide space for companies that could employ 2,000 to 3,000 residents.
They say, too, they are working closely with city and county officials to ensure that the Prado Ranch development would help to resolve flooding — including through the possible expansion of Swan Lake. The lake is at the southwest edge of Prado Ranch.
The city annexed the Prado Ranch property in 2015. An earlier proposal, which called for development of 130 houses on part of the property, was denied by the city in late 2016.
