Commissioners turn down plea from Smith Valley fire department for zone change

SMITH VALLEY - Smith Valley volunteer firefighters will have to seek a special use permit to build a new fire house after Lyon County commissioners said they were unwilling to change the zoning on the parcel.

Commissioners voted against changing the fire station site from residential to commercial zoning.

The action forces the Smith Valley Fire Protection District to pursue a special use permit if they wish to build a station in the area of Day Lane and Lower Colony Road.

Day Lane is one of two sites under consideration for purchase by the district. The volunteer department wanted to avoid the special use permit process, saying it would create uncertainty on the status of any buildings placed on the property.

Representing the fire district, Tom Renner said further delay in making a decision could also threaten the district's ability to apply for a grant.

"It is required we own the land in order to apply for various grants. We don't have time to apply for the (grant) if this is delayed," Renner told the county commission. "It is not fair to the taxpayers to have to have a (permit) and possibly be forced to move the facility in the future."

The commission agreed the property was an ideal site for a future fire station but did not want to create a situation by which other property owners in the area could also ask for commercial zoning.

Commissioner Phyllis Hunewill, Smith Valley's representative on the board, did not agree a delay would jeopardize any grant applications.

"The special use permit request is already on the Planning Commission's upcoming agenda (Nov. 14). If we really want to keep the planning in the area clean, I don't see why we don't go with this. Thirty days will make no difference. I do believe we have time to do this properly," she said.

The county has no special category for public buildings. Many county buildings and fire houses are operated under special use permits. While noting there had been no problems with the process in the past, the board agreed the issue of a special zoning designation needed to be investigated.

Citing the existence of commercial zoning in the area, a request to change the zoning from residential to commercial at a second site on the corner of Highway 208 and Hardie Lane was approved without debate.