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Welcome to the Silver Knolls Community Organization's websiteLocated 8 miles north of Reno, Nevada, Silver Lake is near the intersection of Highway 395 and Red Rock Road at the base of Peavine mountain. The nearby residential area of Silver Knolls overlooks the lake and Stead Airport, where the exciting Reno Air Races take place every September. If you would like more information about Silver Knolls send us an e-mail with your questions... OrangeElmo@gmail.com Community Room UseTo use the Community Room at the Fire House, call 775-328-3605 or contact volunteerprogramlead@tmfpd.us The Fire House Community Room address is 11525 Red Rock Road, Reno, NV 89508. Download and print out the Station Use Permit.
The next SKCO Board meeting, is March 17, 2021 at 7 pm. Details here.
Latest news...Open burning is now permissible the first 7 days of the month with approved Burn Permit. The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District has just announced open burning in their districts. Burn Permit available at: Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District website Be sure to read all the details on their website. Green Waste Days scheduled for November 15 & 16th (Sunday & Monday) at our Silver Knolls fire house was a big success, bringing in around 220 loads of brush & woody material. There was a long line of vehicles waiting to dump their load on Saturday. Sunday, the wait was shorter. The developer (LifeStyle Homes) appealed to the Truckee Meadows Regional Governing Board on February 13, 2020 to get the zoning amendment passed. They won their appeal. Silver Hills development will move forward. They say they won't break ground for the first house for 2 - 3 years. Silver Hills Lawsuit meeting: This message is from Russ Earle, President of Silver Knolls Community Organization... For those homeowners that have property within 750 feet of the proposed Silver Hills development and that have received the "info" cards from the County in the past, if you would like to join the lawsuit and be a named party in our Lawsuit/Judicial Review against Washoe County and the County Commissioners, please contact me via my cell (510-207-9646) and let me know. There will be a meeting with our attorney on Tuesday, Feb 4, 2020 at 6 PM to go over any questions you might have pertaining to being a harmed party in the lawsuit. The meeting will be at our attorney's office on Kietzke Lane. Again, call me and I will give you the specific details. Results of Jan. 23, 2020 TMRPC appeal: From WashoeRAP.com, "The appeal of the Silver Hills development was heard by the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Commission Jan. 23. The TMRPA had previously denied the project finding it non-conforming. This commission represents the principal governmental bodies of the Truckee Meadows: Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County. On the motion to overturn the TMRPA decision and to approve the zoning amendment, the vote was 5-4... the motion failed since a 2/3 majority was required." Next, "...the motion to approve the project as a project of regional significance, the votes were the same. But, the outcome was different since only a simple majority is needed for this motion. So, the project is approved, but it cannot move forward since the zoning has not been changed to accommodate it. The developer plans to appeal to the Truckee Meadows Regional Governing Board to get the zoning amendment passed." That meeting will be Feb. 13, 2:00 PM. Please try to be there. Meeting will be held at Washoe County Commission Chambers, 1001 East Ninth Street, Reno. You can read further details on WashoeRAP.com. County Commissioners meeting January 14, 2020 the Commissioners voted 4-1 to appeal the December 11 TMPRA decision (below). The Zoning & Master Plan change proposal will go back to the TMPRA for reconsideration Jan. 23. (Results above.) After the Jan. 23 appeal, the Silver Hills Master Plan and zoning change proposal will go to the TMPRA Regional Planning Governing Board on February 13th. Time and place to be announced. The Board is composed of ten members drawn from three local jurisdictions; City of Reno, City of Sparks and Washoe County. Please put it on your calendar to attend. Our NVCAB met January 13 and was well attended. A dozen or so neighbors spoke against the proposal to move several parcels of land in our area from the Reno-Stead Joint Corridor plan to Washoe County regulatory zoning categories. The NVCAB board voted to deny support for the change. Also in this meeting 2 daycare facilities (Lemmon Valley & Coldsprings) got the green light. Thieves: Early Sunday, Jan. 5, five residences, garages, and/or vehicles in Silver Knolls were broken into, in the Manassas Ct., Calle Maria, and south Osage areas. Tools and other belongings were stolen. One vehicle was stolen. The Sheriff asks that if you were affected, please fill out an online report... click here to file report. If anyone in the area has surveillance pictures or video footage, the Sheriff would like to know. The Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Commission Board met December 11, 2019. On the agenda was changing the Master Plan in our Silver Knolls area so that the Silver Hills development could build 1,872 homes of urban sprawl. The Silver Hills development needed a 2/3 majority. They didn't get that and the motion failed. Thank you TMPRA. At the unscheduled meeting Wed, Nov. 6 we discussed the next step in our opposition to the Silver Hills development... filing a lawsuit! If you would like to contribute to our Legal Defense Fund, our mailing address is Silver Knolls Community Organization, P. O. Box 60217, Reno, NV 89506-0217. Make your check out to SKCO. Outcome (as expected) of Silver Hills appeal Oct. 22, 2019 in front of the Washoe County Commissioners... Washoe RAP website coverage of the appeal.
It's not over. We're not sure yet what our course of action will be, but several options are being looked at. Thank you to the Gabriel family, and Richard Klein, we are now all on the same page, working toward our common goals of NO ZONING CHANGES and housing density changes, and NO MORE THAN 780 new homes in the proposed Silver Hills development here in Silver Knolls!
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From Russ Earle, President SKCO As a Community Organization SKCO is not against responsible development, just ill conceived and irresponsible development. If the proposed Silver Hills adhered to our current zoning we would not be against it. We just feel that high density (7-10 homes per acre in some areas) is not what our area is about nor is it currently zoned for. I am again asking all of our Silver Knolls residents that feel that the negative impacts Silver Hills development will be vital to our way of life, and the look of our community, please contact our County Commissioners, Washoe County Planning Commission, and Roger Pelham at the Planning Dept via e-mail to voice opposition to the new Silver Hills Plan. I am attaching a contact list at the end of this message. Reasons for opposition are: • increased traffic (over 19,000 added daily car trips on Red Rock/395) • increased pollution (light, environmental, noise), • decrease in property values, • lack of infrastructure (sewer, water, roads), • Impact fees do not cover costs of road and sewer improvements, • destruction of views, • increased dust, • increased risk of flooding, • negative impact on wildlife (deer, antelope, etc.), • increased risk of fire due to high building density, • increased crime likely, • negative impact on emergency services that are already unavailable or have delayed response times Our contacts in public office and how to reach them, including sample letter.
Open burning... Sunday May 5th was the last day for open burning. Also, note that burn barrels are illegal in Washoe County at any time.
Heads up. UPDATE as of June 2019 The Developer LifeStyle Homes has placed Silver Hills back in the approval pipeline... Silver Hills development went before the North Valley Citizens Advisory Board on Monday, June 10: it was unanimously denied by the NVCAB members. Mid-June 2019 - Washoe County Planning Dept Staff report on Silver Hills development was made public. If you would like a copy of the file email orangeelmo@gmail.com with your request. LifeStyle Homes is now asking for zoning changes and
Master Plan Amendments on both sides of Red Rock, with
housing density changes, all "with the intent of approving
a specific plan allowing the development of 1,872 dwelling
units." A Silver Knolls resident's response to the Visioning Workshops. Silver Hills update: Here are the conclusion 'pages' from the 3rd Visioning Workshop December 19, 2018. Next, Roger Pelham will write up a report for his boss from his conclusions, and then it goes to the Washoe Planning Commission and the County Commissioners, and to our NVCAB (North Valleys Citizens Advisory Bureau.) Click on picture to enlarge. 
 Roger Pelham and Trevor Llyod work for the Washoe County Planning Commission. You can email them your thoughts on the Silver Hills development at rpelham@washoecounty.us and tlloyd@washoecounty.us Silver Hills previously: There were 3 'Visioning Workshops' Dec. 17, 19, and 20, 2018, held at the Silver Lake Elementary School in Stead. Roger Pelham and Trevor Lloyd of the Reno Planning Commission led the meetings. The developers, LifeStyle Homes, want to build about building 1,654 homes in Silver Knolls (and that's only on the west side of Red Rock Road, around our fire station.) We need to voice our concerns regarding housing density, water sourcing, sewage treatment plan (the Stead sewage treatment plant is already nearing capacity), not to mention increased traffic congestion on Red Rock Road and hwy 395... ?? This development was originally planned for 680 homes, now they want to nearly quadruple the number! The Silver Hills developers, LifeStyle Homes, are seeking zoning changes and housing density changes from the County. They will be asking for permission to build nearly 4 times as many units as originally permitted!  May 5, 2019: Green Waste Day at our fire house was very well attended.  The BLM chipper was turning the green waste into mulch which is available to homeowners.
News Update September 19, 2018 from the SKCO Board meeting... Silver Hills stalled for now The Silver Hills Development proposal planned for Silver Knolls did NOT go before the Washoe County Planning Commission September 4th, 2018 as planned, and it likely won't be on the October agenda, either. SKCO sent a letter to the Deputy District Attorney of Washoe County outlining the lack of adherence to the Master Plan for the removal of land from the Silver Knolls Character Management Area. The DA then spoke with the Planning Department and it was determined that, in fact, no 'Visioning Workshop' had ever been held, so that requirement will need to be met before the Plan can be put before the Planning Commission. Therefore, it looks like the plan will be delayed 2-3 months before it can go before the Planning Commission. Look for the 'Visioning Workshop' to be on the NVCAB agenda in the very near future. NVCAB & Washoe Co. Planning Commission: The Silver Hills development proposed for Silver Knolls on the west side of Red Rock Road came before the North Valleys Citizens' Advisory Board on August 13, 2018. The NVCAB heard the Silver Hills amended code proposals. Item 6 A. Requesting a Washoe County Master Plan amendment, North Valleys Area Plan; and Item 6 B. Requesting zoning amendment to change the zoning to higher density, and other requests. Result: The NVCAB unanimously voted against making these requested zoning changes.
Follow
this link to read the current Silver
Hills development plan, in pdf format.
Warning this is a large file.
Our contacts in public office and how to reach them, including sample letter. The North Valleys Master Plan in pdf format, from the Washoe County Department of Community Development, adopted 2010. Older News: Community Yard Sale: Our 23rd Annual Silver Knolls Community Yard sale took place Saturday & Sunday, June 2nd & 3rd, 2018. 48 homes participated. Delicious BBQ was provided by the Silver Knolls Silver Spurs 4-H club. The 'wild' Christmas tree that was burned in the wildfire July 14th, 2017 got some company on November 4th. While some community members had shovels in hand, and lots of supervisors watched, three trees were planted – arranged in front of the original burned ‘wild’ Christmas tree which will remain as a memorial and remembrance. It was very windy but sunny. Thank you Dale for spearheading this event. We are ready for Christmas!
Before the planting (below) – the original burned tree and the barren charred hillside, with community members starting to gather. 
The Silver Knolls community would like to thank the fire fighters, air tanker pilots, and Sheriff's Deputies who saved our area from the July 14th, 2017 wildfire that burned up and over the granite hills from Cold Springs. No structures were lost or damaged. Here are some guidelines for erosion control, post
wildfire.
From the Stead airport
manager: Because of the potential for flooding, starting Monday, March 20, 2017 the County Road Department began installing the same barrier system (Hesco) being used in Lemmon Valley to keep Silver Lake from coming up onto Red Rock Road at the road's lowest point.  Peavine Mountain & nearly flooded Silver Lake. Photo credit: Gail MattinglyCommunity Yard Sale: The 22nd Annual Silver Knolls Community Yard sale was Sunday, June 4th, 2017. 55 homes participated. SKCO and volunteer firemen hosted a BBQ lunch at the fire house community room.
Domestic_wells_update.pdf Fire proof your property... Volunteer Fire fighter Dale Hildebrandt gave a presentation and handouts, Saturday, August 13th on Living with Fire! To schedule a fire danger assessment of your property call Dale, 775-772-3750.
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