City proposes status quo growth for next fiscal year

Carson City is proposing to allow growth to continue at 3 percent in the next two years, allowing property owners to draw 731 residential permits for 2004 and as many as 753 for 2005.

The city's Planning Commission will discuss the proposal at its regular meeting Wednesday and expects to make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.

"If anyone in the public wants to say something about the growth in terms of number of (residential) building permits that go out, this is their chance," said Community Development Director Walt Sullivan.

The city has adequate water, sewer and services available to continue a 3 percent growth rate, Sullivan said.

Animal Control Services expressed a concern about the city's ability to keep up with growth with current levels of staffing and funds, Sullivan said.

Out of 699 allocations for new residential projects available in Carson in 2002, only 390 permits were pulled by developers and property owners.

From that, 283 single-family homes were built, 20 multi-family units, six duplexes were constructed, and three mobile home lots developed. Also, 78 plumbing laterals were constructed.

As of Monday, 80 permits for building residential projects out of a possible 642 have been issued by the city, said associate planner Jennifer Pruitt. The city usually sees a jump in permit requests for building homes in June, July and August. Last year, 141 permits were pulled in August, Pruitt said.

The city has set a limit of 3 percent residential growth each year since 1988. A study is done each year to determine whether the city can provide services to meet the maximum amount of growth or if it should restrict that number further, Sullivan said.

Staff will recommend to planning commissioners to void any unused permit allocations from 2003, as it has for the past seven years. Also recommended is a threshold limit of 7,500 gallons of water per day maximum usage for commercial/industrial customers.

IF YOU GO

What: Carson City Planning Commission

When: 3:30 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Sierra Room, Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.