City of Sparks Council Takes Giant Step to Promote Economic Recovery

At a recent City of Sparks Council retreat, the City Council requested staff to look at amendments to the development codes to remove barriers to development and job creation.  In response, the city staff prepared a resolution to amend fees for development services such as Special Use Permits, Site Plan Reviews, Code Amendments, and Tentative Maps. 

On October 10^th the Council approval the resolution with an added specific review period of six months and fee caps which limit collects not to exceed current amounts.

Currently, there are three types of Special Use Permits:

• Major
• Routine
• Minor.

These three delineations are based on the amount of staff time typically devoted to the type of special use permit. For example, a major Special Use Permit for a new casino in the TC (Tourist Commercial) zoning district. A minor Special Use Permit might be an amendment to a previously approved Special Use Permit. A major requires a $10,000 deposit, a routine is $13,385 and a minor is $7,495. 

Sparks will eliminate the different types of Special Use Permits and simply charge applicants a fee of $120 per hour of staff time. They will require a deposit of $1250  for a Special Use Permit. Staff will be required to track time associated with the entitlement and charge toward the deposit. If the project requires more time than the deposit provided staff will bill the applicant for the remaining fees. 

This is the process used when reviewing Planned Development Handbooks. If less time and materials are required the remainder of the deposit will be refunded (as is with a handbook review process.)  Under no circumstance will the fees exceed the current fee schedule.

The Site Plan Review fee is very similar to that of the Special Use Permit. Currently there are two types of Site Plan Reviews: routine and minor. The fee associated with a routine Site Plan Review is $6,975 and a minor is $4,250. The purpose of a Site Plan Review is to determine whether a proposed use, building, structure addition or change to any building, structure or use will conform to the zoning ordinance, building and fire codes. 

The Site Plan Review insures development provides an acceptable project serving the interests of public health, safety and general welfare. The Site Plan Review process is an administrative process and does not include public hearings. The Council approved removal of the two types of Site Plan Reviews and will require a deposit of $1,250 to move through the process. Again, this $1,250 deposit would be time and material based and requires staff to track time to charge against the deposit. If City costs exceed the deposit amount the applicant would be billed for the remaining charges.

Lastly, the Council approved revising the fee for review of an expired Tentative Subdivision Map. The fee is currently $16,050. As described above with Special Use Permit and Site Plan Review, staff is proposing a fee for review of an expired Tentative Subdivision Map based on time and materials with a deposit of $1,250.

The Builders Association of Northern Nevada applaud the City of Sparks for the insight and leadership in promotion of the economic stability and job creation.

Recharge Nevada Summit on Economic Development

Leaders from the City of Reno, City of Sparks, Washoe County, Nevada Office of Economic Development,  Nevada State Office of Energy, UNR and EDAWN are coming together tomorrow the Recharge Nevada Summit on Economic Development.

The Summit is taking place November 17, 2011 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center from 4:00p to 7:00p. 

The round table discussion is seeking concrete, actionable advice that can  be incorporated into the planning for a regional approach to economic development. 

The intent behind Recharge Nevada is to:

• Create formal and informal structures and processes to pursue economic development effectively and collaboratively on a regional basis; and
• Cooperate on the preparation of a regional economic development plan to respond to the economic challenges and opportunities facing northwestern Nevada; and
• Develop regional and public-private partnerships and responses to Assembly Bill 449 and to work in close cooperation with the State of Nevada.

To learn more about the submit, visit http://www.rechargenevada.com/. 

Congress Needs to Reinstate Higher Loan Limits

Statement from NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen on the Need to Reinstate Loan Limits

Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev., issued the following statement regarding the need for Congress to pass legislation to reinstate the higher loan limits for the Federal Housing Administration that expired on Sept. 30:

"Legislation pending in the House and Senate will restore the higher mortgage loan limits for the Federal Housing Administration and is essential to help stabilize the nation's housing financial markets.

"The FHA program is fully self-supporting, and a great example of a public-private partnership with lending institutions. Restoring the loan limits will provide millions of potential consumers in markets throughout the nation access to safe, affordable mortgage financing.

"To help mend the struggling housing market, stabilize home values, provide constancy while private investors re-enter the market and ensure that millions of creditworthy home borrowers can access the best possible mortgage rates, Congress must support this bill to help American families and get the lackluster economy moving forward."

NAHB Fall Construction Forecast Webinar

Below is a message and invitation from David Crow, NAHB Chief Economist. Please join us this Wednesday for thoughtful analysis and insight at what’s ahead for the housing industry.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the housing market has continued to struggle towards recovery, we’re starting to see bright spots. NAHB/First American’s new Improving Market Index (IMI) tracks metropolitan areas where economic recovery is underway. At the Fall Construction Forecast Webinar, I, along with Joel Prakken and Robert Denk, will take a look at regional markets and address questions like:

·  Are house prices back in line with incomes?

·  Is multifamily rental production the bright light at the end of the tunnel?

·  How will mortgage rates react to debt reduction plans?

·  Have tighter underwriting requirements increased the cancellation rates for new home sales?

·  Is acquisition, development and construction credit more accessible?

·  Are there markets that are improving? Where?

I’m looking forward to the opportunity to discuss these issues and take your questions. Join us on Wednesday, October 26 at 2:00 PM ET for two hours of thoughtful analysis and a look at what’s ahead for housing. Register now at www.nahb.org/CFW.

Nevada Department of Transportation Developing 50 Year Plan

Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is working on a series of transportation workshops to develop the 50 year plan. The workshops are titled “Connecting Nevada: Planning Our Transportation Future”.

First meeting:

• November 16, 2011 –1pm - 3:30pm
• NDOT Offices
• 310 Galletti Way
•  Sparks, Nevada

The Connecting Nevada Plan (formerly the 50-Year Transportation Plan) is a comprehensive statewide

multi-modal planning effort with the goal of improving communication and coordination among partner agencies, geographic areas, and planning efforts. The intent of the Connecting Nevada Plan is to develop an umbrella framework that coordinates and integrates the results of the multitude of planning efforts into a unified, consistent vision.

Through this Plan, the individual goals of various studies, focus areas, and state, regional, and local plans can be synchronized into a concise set of larger, multi-modal transportation goals. Furthermore, the Connecting Nevada Plan provides a broad structure for previous ideas to be reconsidered under changed conditions. The intent is not to replace existing plans, studies, or processes but to enhance their effect across the transportation planning spectrum.

The concept originated from the Nevada Statewide Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (STTAC) as a means to identify and preserve priority right-of-way corridors for transportation. During the Connecting Nevada Plan process, the participating stakeholders recognized the opportunities associated with a coordinated planning structure and process across transportation disciplines and modes, as well as, the ability to better identify priority right-of-way corridors as originally intended. The Connecting Nevada Plan is mid-way through a two-part, multi-agency development process. The Connecting Nevada Interim Report documents the progress the twenty two participating agencies made to date and illustrates the plan moving forward.

For more information please visit the NDOT website or call NDOT directly at 702-880-8452.