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FERNLEY — Although residents in the Good Earth subdivision and Villa Mobile Home Park voiced concerns about traffic, noise, casino lights, and crime, the Fernley City Council voted 4-1 to approve a Special Use Permit to make way for a 9,000 square foot casino and a 4,500 square foot restaurant on Main Street north of the Fernley 7-11.
At last Wednesday meeting, Councilman Ralph Menke voted against the motion because he did not think the location was appropriate. He told the Board that light and noise from the casino would impact residents, and they deserve consideration.
Owner W.C.W. Corporation/D. Scott Tate made the request to put a smokeless casino on a 5.59-acre site located north of the mobile home park and the subdivision.
According to the City Community Development Department, the property is permitted within the C-2 (general commercial) zoning district with a special use permit
This is the first phase of construction on that site, and ultimately a 16,410 square foot casino and a six room hotel will be the ensuing projects.
Menke asked if a casino is allowed in a C-2 zoning district, to which CDD Director Terry Gilbert remarked that it was only allowed with a SUP.
CDD Associate Planner Lorrie Chase, took off her planner’s hat to sit in the audience as citizens to advocate against the project, she also was put on the spot by Councilman Curt Chaffin and Mayor David Stix Jr., of her role as a city planner in regards to the SUP and a potential conflict.
She drafted a petition and circulated it which indicated the casino was not a compatible land use with the residential area.
Of the 150 houses in the subdivision, Chase said, “One-third
of the residents in the subdivision signed the petition indicating we do not want a casino at the end of the street.”
She added there are already 22 places in Fernley where people can gamble.
“I don’t object to the casino, I only object to the location. There are lots of commercial areas where this casino can go. It doesn’t need to go next to a residential development,” Chase said.
The manager of Villa Park had concerns about traffic and the left-hand turns out of the mobile home park, and one of the casino exits is directly across from the mobile home park, he further noted that there was a possibility of a head on collision.
Most of his tenants are concerned about noise, traffic and the “late night stuff brings, people coming into the park.”
“They are long time residents and they deserve some consideration,” he said.
Jackie Hart, of E. Street said, “Do we really need another casino? What we really need is a shoe shop, a place where we can get clothing, a place buy fabric, a place where we can have an ice cream shop.”
She then remarked she had concerns about children wander across the street to a casino.
Joan Ward said she had objections to the project, “The objections I have are well summed up by the Mayor, not too long ago in August in the City In Brief (newsletter),” and she read, “…Main Street is either an asset or a liability in our effort to recruit new businesses, industry and tourist to our community.”
Ward went on to say that the City does not have a plan for Main Street and asked if the City was going to turn Main Street into a Las Vegas Strip.
Councilman Monte Martin remarked that the council could not dictate to the property owners what is appropriate.
He added if the property was approved for a Post Office, for instance, citizens would also complaint about the traffic impacts.
Stix then asked Chase when she circulated the petition, if she explained to residents the City’s need for more retail and the demand for more jobs.
“I’m not sure what it had to do with the matter at hand,” said Chase.
Stix went on to say that people don’t live in and work in Fernley to support retail services.
He said, “Fifty percent of the work force commutes.”
Stix also went on to say that there are no statistics that indicate that a casino will bring more crime.
He also said the city cannot pick and chose which business come to the City.
Curt Chaffin, councilman, asked Chase why her name appeared on the staff report as the preparer and pointed out a potential conflict.
Chase remarked, “I’m the only planner you have on staff.” Senior Planner Louis Fineberg resigned.
She added that she made a few small changes but told CDD Director to that she has a conflict of interest.
The approval requires the Planning Commission to review the casino lighting and requires the developer to provide screening with trees or other devises.
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