Genoa lane substation before planning commission

A new Sierra Pacific Power Co. substation east of the Johnson Lane area will be considered Tuesday.

The Douglas County Planning Commission will review the project, which would be located on 2.5 acres owned by the Bureau of Land Management.

The project needs a zoning change designating the land as public facilities instead of its current forest and range classification. It also needs a special use permit, and Sierra Pacific has asked the county to waive some requirements for putting utility line extensions underground.

The planning commission has authority to grant the special use permit and the request to waive the undergrounding requirements. The county commission has the final say for the zoning change.

Douglas County's Community Development Department is recommending approval.

The proposed site is approximately one-half a mile east of the intersection of Stephanie Way and Romero Drive. A report on the project says the site is in a small valley, and the substation wouldn't be visible from the residential area, but existing power poles would be.

Sierra Pacific is planning to extend several power lines from the site. Four will be underground, but the company wants a waiver to put two of them above ground.

One would be an overhead power circuit parallel to existing overhead lines. The circuit would run from the substation south to Sunrise Pass Road, a distance of two miles.

Pole heights would vary from 39 to 45 feet, depending on pole type and topography. The existing poles are 55 feet high.

Another overhead extension is proposed along Stephanie Way between Romero Drive and Vicky Lane, also a two-mile span. The existing overhead poles would be replaced with new double-circuit poles that are 5 to 10 feet higher than the existing poles.

As part of the project, Sierra Pacific is offering to build a free public parking area along the substation access road. The parking area could accommodate horse trailers and would be a quarter-mile from the end of Stephanie Way.

Tuesday's meeting starts at 1 p.m. at the old courthouse, 1616 Eighth St., Minden.

IF YOU GO

What: Douglas County Planning Commission

When: 1 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Old courthouse, 1616 Eighth St., Minden.