The possibility of a truck stop near our neighborhood is REAL! Five years ago, Flying J Truck Stops purchased a 48 acre parcel of land on the south side of the Robb Drive I-80 exit/entrance ramp. That area is zoned LLR1 - Large Lot RESIDENTIAL 1 Acre. It was so zoned when they purchased it. They will need a change in zoning OR a variance to go ahead with their project. Of note, they felt confident enough to purchase the parcel believing that an ordinance change or variance would be readily obtainable. And, they have reportedly paid the NVDOT $1,000,000 for access rights to the I-80 exit.
The blights that tend to accompany truck stops are well known: drug dealing, prostitution, fuel spills and air pollution just to mention a few. Flying J has a history of fuel spills – the Truckee River is too valuable a resource, and too close to this site to risk going ahead with this project! Add to that the danger of accidents that trucks will create for residents of NW Reno who use this exit on a daily basis for business commutes and shopping trips to other parts of Reno.
Recent history has seen big business overcome the overwhelming desires of NW Reno residents AND the Reno City Council: Wal-Mart and K-Mart both obtained court rulings that allowed them to build in our community. THE DIFFERENCE? Both Wal-Mart and K-mart sites were already zoned for commercial use. The Robb Drive parcel in question is zoned RESIDENTIAL. At the November 28 City Council meeting, a Flying J representative made a not-so-veiled threat of legal action against the council to attain their goal. Zoning changes and variances are a way of business in the commercial real estate world, but the fact that their property was and is zoned RESIDENTIAL should make their case that much weaker.
Current city ordinances do not include a definition of “truck stop”, with explanation of physical plant requirements and boundary setbacks. Thus a proposed ordinance definition of “truck stop” was introduced by city planning staff, which the City Council unanimously approved in its first reading at their public meeting on November 28. That definition requires a minimum buffer of 1/4-mile between the boundary of a truck stop and a residential neighborhood. This 1/4-mile buffer requirement would essentially negate the possibility of a truck stop at Robb Drive. A procedural second reading and vote is on the City Council meeting agenda for December 12. In the meantime, it is safe to assume that Flying J representatives are doing whatever they can do to ultimately get their truck stop approved.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
� Log onto www.notruckstop.com and check out the links and resources to information on this issue. This site was built and is maintained by a concerned resident of NW Reno. It is full of pertinent information and useful links. Tell your neighbors about it!
� Write to the city council NOW. Tell them you are: In favor of the proposed ordinance definition of a truck stop (with 1/4 mile buffer zones as cited above); and against a truck stop at Robb Drive & I-80. The above website has a link to their addresses.
� Attend the next Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) meeting, Thursday January 17th at 6:00 pm, at the Fire Station on Mae Anne and Sharlands. Flying J will review their truck stop proposal.
� Check out the City of Reno website, www.cityofreno.com, for links to detailed information, such as city ordinances, City Council meetings and agendas � and meet your city council members.
If you have any questions, I can try to answer them. Email bypollard@aol.com, or call at 473-2872.
Bill Pollard – Somersett Resident
David Hughes
I live in this area and think the Flying J should be allowed to build. the revenue it will generate for the city and the facility will give the truckers that tend ot stack up along the highway during the winter storms a place to get off the road and out of thier trucks have a hot meal take a shower and probably call thier families, that they don’t get to see very often because they are hauling the toys you people love to have.
So I am going to do everything I can to support the Flying J being placed on the site they purchased
Thank you for your comment.
I agree that the truckers need a place to stop for a hot meal, call their families, etc. My only argument is that they already have The Alamo on the South side of Sparks and they have Boomtown on the West side of Reno, not to mention Sierra Sids in Sparks. I don’t see the need to add another one, when that space can be used for something else.
I agree with you both, but you have no proof that they’re going to do any of this terrible stuff like drug dealing and spilling fuel into the river. Don’t you think we should at least give them a chance to discuss your concerns?