Stonegate at Heinz Ranch Switches to Industrial
Stonegate public amenities and housing are canceled and industrial is approved
On May 21, 2025, the Reno City Council approved a proposal by Heinz Ranch Land Company, LLC to pivot the development towards industrial use, specifically large-scale warehouse facilities. The revised plan reduces the number of residential units to 1,350 and introduces approximately 11.75 million square feet of industrial space—a twelvefold increase from the original design.
Heinz Ranch Land Company, LLC is a real estate development firm based in Reno, Nevada, and owns the StoneGate project in Cold Springs, originally envisioned as a 5,000-home master-planned community, which has undergone a significant transformation.
This decision followed a prior rejection by the Reno Planning Commission, which expressed concerns about the compatibility of industrial uses with surrounding areas.
Despite this, the City Council approved the change in a 4–3 vote, with Councilmembers Miguel Martinez, Kathleen Taylor, Devon Reese, and Brandi Anderson voting in favor, and Councilmembers Meghan Ebert, Naomi Duerr, and Mayor Hillary Schieve opposing. Schieve is trying to look anti-developer.
It’s interesting that Reese’s law partner Velto is a planning commission member.
Proponents of the shift argue that the industrial focus will attract manufacturing jobs, (the jobs are usually low paying) reduce traffic volumes, and lower water usage compared to the original residential plan. However, critics, including the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter, have raised concerns about potential environmental risks and the loss of land. It’s a beautiful piece of ranch land that can’t be replaced.
Campaign Contributions
Heinz Ranch Land Company, LLC, of Lathrop, CA, has made political contributions to Councilman Devon Reese's campaign. According to the Nevada Secretary of State's Contributions & Expenses Annual Filing, they contributed $5,000 on September 6, 2023, and $2,500 on December 23, 2024, to Reese.
StoneGate at Heinz Ranch
StoneGate Master Planned Community
StoneGate was to be a comprehensive development located in the Cold Springs area, encompassing approximately 1,700 acres. The project was designed to include 5,000 residential units, comprising single-family homes, multi-family residences, and affordable housing options. The community plan also integrated commercial spaces, schools, recreational facilities, and essential infrastructure to support a self-sustaining neighborhood.
The development of StoneGate is managed by Newlands Development Company (NDC), with key figures Donald A. Pattalock and Michael Barnes.
Community Contributions and Commitments
Heinz Ranch Land Company, LLC, previously committed to contributing to community amenities and pledged $1.5 million in donations to support recreational and community facilities in the North Valleys, the Moana Aquatics facility, and other local programs. The development plan had included the construction of up to 200 affordable housing units in the earlier phases of the project, demonstrating a commitment to addressing diverse housing needs in the area.
Bond Issue
In June 2021, the Reno City Council authorized the issuance of approximately $36.7 million in municipal bonds to support infrastructure improvements for the StoneGate development. This arrangement aimed to provide the developer with access to the city's lower interest rates, facilitating the financing of infrastructure with the intention of passing savings on to future homeowners. However, despite this authorization, the bonds were ultimately not issued. In a subsequent ordinance, the City Council repealed the earlier authorization, noting that the bonds had never been issued at the request of Heinz Ranch Land Company, LLC.
The Connections
Giornico Holdings & Advisory, Newlands Development Company (NDC), and Heinz Ranch Land Company, LLC are interconnected entities involved in the development of the StoneGate Master Planned Community.
Giornico Holdings & Advisory: Parent company providing strategic oversight.
Newlands Development Company (NDC): Operates under Giornico Holdings; manages development projects.
Heinz Ranch Land Company, LLC: Developer of the StoneGate project; managed by NDC.
Conclusion
It appears that the developer sees a greater profit in building industrial facilities instead of residential ones. They declined the bond money and were then released from commitments to build public amenities. The recommendations of the Planning Commission do not bind the City Council, and it can appoint commission members whom it approves of. There is a bill before the Nevada Assembly that will give council members the authority to remove commission members. The City Council also votes against the interests of the people, as many opposed the change to industrial. This demonstrates that Reno needs independent commissioners whose findings are binding on the city council, and we need to elect council members who are not beholden to developers. We also need a way to ensure that they listen to and follow the will of the voters.
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