Washoe County Approves Sierra Reflections Development
Washoe County commissioners reversed a prior denial and approved the 720-acre Sierra Reflections development after public debate. The project highlights the tension between development, affordability, and community input in the rapidly growing region.
The Sierra Reflections development, planned for south Washoe County near Pleasant Valley, involves a 940-lot subdivision with open space across 760 acres. The Washoe County Planning Commission initially denied the project on January 6, 2026, but the developer, World Properties, Inc., appealed. The approval came after a 3-2 vote by the Washoe County Board of Commissioners, reversing the Planning Commission's decision. The development site is within the Carson River Mercury Superfund Site, raising concerns about potential disturbance of contaminants. Washoe County stated that the developer will need to create a Draft Remedial Action Plan in coordination with Northern Nevada Public Health. The plan includes an eight-foot clean fill cap on top of mercury-impacted soils, exceeding the requirement for similar projects. Public concerns included traffic, flooding risks, threats to endangered species, and soil contamination. A 23-year resident of Pleasant Valley, William Cowan, expressed concerns about proposed roundabouts on U.S. 395 Alternate causing gridlock and evacuation difficulties during wildfires. The project has a long history, initially proposed in 1984 as the St. James Resort with a hotel, casino, and condominiums.
