luxury hotel project has to undergo many more the process itself that should be overhauled steps before it is constructed. and not the requirement to have one,” he “When a project attempts to be built in that explained.”After all, there are a LOT of items specific site, it will have layers upon layers of that require an SUP.” design review,” he said. Councilmember Devon Reese chimed in. Mayor Hillary Schieve supports the highHe had voted in favor of the ordinance change. rise but called the shading ordinance change a He said the shading ordinance needed to be difficult decision. changed because it was discriminatory and “A lot of what we’ve talked about a form of NIMBY-ism. More dense is that infill downtown and how do housing, he said, translates into we make that happen,” she said, more economically diverse “Shade citing the need for “all types housing options. ordinances … of housing.” “Knowlton are largely a form of Councilmember Development wants to Brekhus opposed the do mixed-use housing, housing discrimination ordinance change. including low-income cloaked in a more “That always raises and affordable units palatable form.” flags in terms of priorities,” near the river as well,” she said. “If this is not about he explained. “A park Devon Reese one project, it sounds more adjacent to the parcel Reno City Councilmember and more that it is. The converwould have been impacted sation started with this project’s by the shading ordinance. representative about this ordinance “Shade ordinances, such as change when we have a whole bunch more this one, are largely a form of housing lined up to do.” discrimination cloaked in a more palatable Reese disagreed. He said the mayor and form (no density here because dense housing council have been clear with the community: invites poorer folks to live in an area),” Reese “The council has previously made a priority added. “There were probably legitimate of in-fill development,” he said. “Build up, reasons for this at one point in time … but the more dense, and not out.” □ net result has been … parcels downtown that have not been built in some time for a variety of factors, with the shading ordinance being one of them.” This story was published in collaboration with the news The shade ordinance, Reese said, was website ThisIsReno.com. inhibiting development broadly. Moreover, the
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The site where the funky arts motel Wildflower Village once stood on Fourth Street is now under construction. The project, which is being built by S3 Development Company, will include 164 luxury apartments. PHOTO/JERI DAVIS
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