Council approves Duffy Road abandonment, retains name for new route

By Kerry Lyman
Yesterday, 10:08 AM

The Fernley City Council voted at its April 15 meeting to vacate a half-mile stretch of Duffy Road northeast of Nevada Pacific Parkway to accommodate future development in the Victory Logistics District, but agreed to keep the Duffy Road name for the mile-long road section that will replace it.

Duffy Road currently curves through two Victory Logistics parcels north of Nevada Pacific Parkway before joining with Conner Drive and passing under Interstate 80. It is that portion of Duffy Road that was approved for abandonment.

A new road, called Innovation Drive, was proposed adjacent to and southeast of the two affected parcels, running from Nevada Pacific Parkway to Conner Drive, in order to continue the connection with the I-80 underpass, where Duffy Road retains its name on the other side of the freeway.

Longtime resident John Duffy requested that the new roadway tentatively named Innovation Drive instead be named Duffy Road to retain the name of his family, which has been in the city since the 1930s, and to maintain continuity.

After a brief recess, Councilman Joe Mendoza asked if retaining the Duffy Road name was acceptable to Mark IV Capital, the developer of Victory Logistics District. Mark IV Capital Vice President of Entitlements Scott Barnes said the new road had been labeled Duffy Road during the planning process, but Lyon County insisted the name should be Innovation Drive to prevent confusion for emergency responders.

“We do see the importance of the local heritage,” Barnes said, adding that Mark IV is willing to keep the Duffy Road name as long as the fire department agrees and the city supports that name change when it is presented to Lyon County.

The council voted unanimously to approve the road abandonment on the condition that the new roadway between Nevada Pacific Parkway and Conner Drive be renamed Duffy Road.

A temporary public access easement and maintenance agreement will allow continued public access across the abandoned section of Duffy Road until the new section of Duffy Road is completed and accepted by the city, according to a staff report.