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Agenda Item
25. Public Hearing: To adopt Envision Washoe 2040, a comprehensive update to the Washoe County Master Plan. If adopted, this plan would replace the existing Washoe County Master Plan-excluding the Tahoe Area Plan-and provide a contemporary vision for growth and development in Washoe County for the next 10-20 years. Envision Washoe 2040 consolidates the 18 existing Master Plan documents into a single document. The new Master Plan would conform with both state law requirements and the 2019 Truckee Meadows Regional Plan and addresses certain topics such as housing, conservation, land use, transportation, public facilities and services, adaptation and resiliency, regional form and coordination, and population. And, if approved, authorize the chair to sign a resolution to this effect. Any approval by the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners will require a finding of conformance with the Truckee Meadows Regional Plan by the regional planning authorities before the updated Master Plan will go into effect. Community Services. (All Commission Districts.) FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
I represent Sierra Club, and we are in support of the Envision Washoe 2040 plan. We feel that this plan is very well thought out, organized and clear. It also contains some very good policies for the environment.
First, we are thrilled to see a policy providing for development of enhanced landscaping standards to mitigate air pollution. In particular, we would like to see the transition away from gas-powered to electric powered landscape equipment. The gas-powered equipment is extremely polluting; it is an occupational hazard for the workers, and pollutes the air for others in the work area. It is also a major source of noise pollution. We need to continue to work toward a future powered by electricity, rather than dirty fossil fuels.
Second, we strongly agree with the policy to provide support for alternative agriculture techniques including Healthy Soils initiatives. Sierra Club supports a Healthy Soils approach to all agriculture, where natural methods are utilized in lieu of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. These natural agriculture methods improve crop yields, prevent contamination of water supplies, and are much healthier for human health as well as for our ecosystems.
The third item is a bit of a disappointment for Sierra Club. We are disappointed in the lack of support for all-electric new construction. While there is a policy principle for development of renewable energy and infrastructure, there is no mention of electrification in all new construction. Building operations account for about 45% of all greenhouse gas emissions in our county. To combat climate change, we simply must transition away from gas infrastructure and toward electrification of all new buildings. This includes building codes that require all-electric appliances, EV chargers, and solar panels.
We do hope that electrification requirements in the building code can be addressed in some future policy action. But with this one caveat, we are in full support of the Washoe Envision 2040 plan.
I represent Sierra Club, and we are in support of the Envision Washoe 2040 plan. We feel that this plan is very well thought out, organized and clear. It also contains some very good policies for the environment.
First, we are thrilled to see a policy providing for development of enhanced landscaping standards to mitigate air pollution. In particular, we would like to see the transition away from gas-powered to electric powered landscape equipment. The gas-powered equipment is extremely polluting; it is an occupational hazard for the workers, and pollutes the air for others in the work area. It is also a major source of noise pollution. We need to continue to work toward a future powered by electricity, rather than dirty fossil fuels.
Second, we strongly agree with the policy to provide support for alternative agriculture techniques including Healthy Soils initiatives. Sierra Club supports a Healthy Soils approach to all agriculture, where natural methods are utilized in lieu of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. These natural agriculture methods improve crop yields, prevent contamination of water supplies, and are much healthier for human health as well as for our ecosystems.
The third item is a bit of a disappointment for Sierra Club. We are disappointed in the lack of support for all-electric new construction. While there is a policy principle for development of renewable energy and infrastructure, there is no mention of electrification in all new construction. Building operations account for about 45% of all greenhouse gas emissions in our county. To combat climate change, we simply must transition away from gas infrastructure and toward electrification of all new buildings. This includes building codes that require all-electric appliances, EV chargers, and solar panels.
We do hope that electrification requirements in the building code can be addressed in some future policy action. But with this one caveat, we are in full support of the Washoe Envision 2040 plan.