On Wednesday night at Reno City Hall, the Planning Commission voted to rezone 69 acres of land near South Valleys Regional Park.

That land was originally zoned for multi-use suburban development, but was voted to be changed for parks, greenways, and open spaces. 

This change will allow whatever project might happen in the area to be developed as community amenities. 

Projects could be anything, including sports field extensions, libraries, trails, parks, and possibly even a dog park. 

City Planning Manager Mike Railey touched on the project.

"Essentially, it's designed for parks, public facilities, and trails, and that sort of thing," he said. "It will preserve what's there now in terms of the public benefit, the uses that are there, and allow for enhancements to those new additions, new fields, new park facilities, new trails, that's where things really ensure that community amenity aspect."

The commission tells us that the Ward's Neighborhood Advisory Board is in support of this rezoning, in an effort to keep green areas green and open more room for an extension of the South Valleys Park. 

"It's just reassuring to know that the park can continue to expand, to meet demands that we have within the community," said Railey. "That designation also, I think, probably provides a little bit of a security blanket that other developments that are not really public facility related will not occur."

Any projects taking place in this plot of land will be funded by grants and will not pull from the city budget. With the vote to rezone, any future projects will come from Washoe County. 

"This will go to the City Council next month, and then the zoning will take effect. After a second reading with the city council. So, you know, the end of next month, and then Washoe County can move forward with their plans," said Railey.