NRS278.26503. Establishment of procedures for issuance of permit or special use permit for construction of project.

  Each governing body:

      1.  Shall establish a process for the issuance of a permit for the construction of an aboveground utility project which is located in a corridor for the construction of aboveground utility projects identified in the master plan adopted by the planning commission or governing body.

      2.  Shall establish a process for the issuance of a special use permit for the construction of an aboveground utility project which is not located in a corridor for the construction of aboveground utility projects identified in the master plan adopted by the planning commission or governing body. The process adopted by the governing body must include, without limitation, provisions:

      (a) Requiring the planning commission or the governing body to review each completed application at a public hearing;

      (b) Requiring the applicant to provide proof satisfactory to the planning commission or the governing body that the construction of the aboveground utility project does not conflict with any existing or planned infrastructure or other utility projects; and

      (c) Authorizing the planning commission or the governing body to issue or deny the issuance of a special use permit for the construction of an aboveground utility project based on the proximity of the proposed site of the aboveground utility project to any school, hospital or urban residential area with a dwelling density greater than 2 units per gross acre.

      3.  Shall establish a process for the issuance of a special use permit for the construction of a renewable energy generation project with a nameplate capacity of 10 megawatts or more which must include, without limitation, provisions:

      (a) Establishing the required contents of an application;

      (b) Establishing the criteria by which the planning commission or the governing body will evaluate an application; and

      (c) Requiring the planning commission or the governing body to review each completed application at a public hearing not later than 65 days after receiving the complete application.

      4.  May establish an expedited process for the issuance of a permit or special use permit described in subsections 1, 2 and 3 if the governing body determines that:

      (a) The project will be located in an isolated or rural area; and

      (b) There is minimal risk of disturbance to residents as a result of the construction of the project.

      (Added to NRS by 2013, 3214)