After marathon back and forth comments at the Reno City Planning Commission for its 5.3 J Resort Festival Grounds discussion last night, Victoria Barnett from the City of Reno wrote to us indicating “the commission voted unanimously to approve the conditional use permit for J Resort's Festival Grounds” in west downtown.
The stipulations for the 4.5-acre festival grounds site will be for accommodations of up to 15,000 attendees for concerts and events, with operations until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and two special events annually allowed to run later, until a very precise 12:15 a.m.
There were also numerous public comments, with some for and others against. Before the vote, Commissioner Manny Becerra did warn that “we’ve seen several high profile investments that fall short of …expectations.”
He added a question to staff asking if this is the “quote unquote money for revitalizing downtown Reno.”
A staff answered there is no crystal ball and there could be a recession but that the track record of the Glow Plaza played into the decision making.
Two years ago, J Resort abruptly canceled a planned Fuego Latin Cultural Fest at the Glow Plaza, over “community safety” concerns, leading some locals to boycott that location.
Others have expressed concerns about noise both from the Glow Plaza and the new festival grounds, while some looking at the numbers fear Jacobs Entertainment has too many financial liabilities concerning its ongoing purchasing and demolition cycle in Reno.
Hundreds of people who relied on long term motel rooms have been displaced due to this buyout spree, which has also led to one motel being reconverted into apartments, new public art and lots of new parking.