When "No" Still Means "Yes" in Reno - Mt. Rose Junction

One of many accidents at the corner of Mt. Rose and Plumas right by where some of our city councilmembers want to change the Master Plan to accommodate Mt. Rose Junction.

It’s back. The one-acre rezoning that even the Reno Planning Commission couldn’t muster support for is rolling along — because in Reno politics, developer failure technicality, is not a stop sign.

The developer’s advocate, Brook Oswald, spun it as “unique” — because, apparently, one acre of dirt is the unicorn of urban planning. “A great opportunity to do something special,” he said. Translation: stack ‘em high, sell ‘em fast, and don’t worry where the cars go.

Neighbors aren’t buying it. Plumas Street is already a clogged artery at rush hour. Add in a multi-unit complex with no clear parking plan, and suddenly front yards start looking like overflow lots.

A plea on Nextdoor by a neighbor of Mt. Rose Junction.

if the City of Reno Councilmembers approve this they are rewriting the rules for everything that follows. And once the floodgates open, every developer in town will want their own “special” carve-out. Sadly Councilmembers Devon Reese, Brandi Anderson, and Kathleen Taylor are developer contributor crazy accepting money from all but claiming developers don’t own them.

Rumor has it, a few council members have already been whispering sweet assurances to the developer. So let’s call it what it is: residents say “no,” the Planning Commission deadlocks, and yet the project marches on.

In Reno, “public process” is starting to look a lot like “public theater.” And once again, the audience — taxpayers, neighbors, residents who live with the traffic — are left clapping politely while City Hall cues the encore.

City of Reno City Council Agenda - September 24, 2025.