Data Centers and Growth

I made the motion and voted to halt all new data centers through the end of August, 2027. I’m glad to say it passed!

As your councilmember and hopefully as your mayor, I push for growth that is what the community needs. What does that mean to me, and what are some things I’ve voted for and against? 

We need growth, but only growth that works for our community. My big vision is to move the dump and industrial uses off the river and replace it with a park, affordable housing, infill development, and small business options that revitalize downtown. 

I voted to stop data centers until we have sensible regulations in place to be able to say “no” to the bad ones, and also recognize that small, sustainable data centers are possible and a necessary part of modern life. 

I voted to stop data centers until we have sensible regulations in place to be able to say “no” to the bad ones, and also recognize that small, sustainable data centers are possible and a necessary part of modern life. Sometimes I vote “yes” on a project when I think the law says we have to—I’m a lawyer and don’t want the city to lose lawsuits. When that happens, I negotiate the best deal for the city and our neighbors, including more affordable housing, better environmental design and impacts, traffic improvements, and more that we should demand from developers. 

Some of the projects I’ve voted against include Evans Creek Annexation, Meridian near Verdi, Prado Ranch in Lemmon Valley, Westview near Damonte Ranch, Mortenson Ranch, and Pembroke. Here are some news stories that talk about those.

• Evans Creek Annexation Denied by Reno City Council (My New 4)
• Reno City Council Affirms Denial of Permit for Meridian 120 South Development Near Verdi (My News 4)
• After Two Year Delay Reno Council Rejects Prado Ranch Development in Lemmon Valley (My News 4)
• Prado Ranch Development Decision (ThisisReno)
• My News 4: City of Reno Annexes 80 aces of New Land Mayor Provides-update on 1000 Homes Program
• ThisisReno: Reno Turns Down Proposed Mortensen Ranch Settlement
• ThisisReno: City Council Turns Down 1000 acre Mortensen Ranch Development

Projects I’m proud to have markedly improved from what was approved before I joined the council include Stonegate and Daybreak. 

• Daybreak: Here is a long discussion of what development was approved before I joined the council, and how I worked to improve it. The short version is, I was able to negotiate the final development to be better environmentally, have more housing that affordable and dense.
• Stonegate: Initially approved years before I was on the council, what came before me and I voted for was to update the development to have less water usage, less traffic impacts, and less strain on city resources and residents in the area. 
• Lakeridge: I voted to ensure limited development, and that the land is restricted to open space. 

Projects I’m proud to have voted for include many affordable housing projects for seniors and veterans, like Carville Park, Hi-Way 40 Motel, and more:

• Supported ADUs
• Vintage Affordable Housing
• Hawk View