Major north county projects before planners on Tuesday

Staff Reports

Two major projects along the Douglas-Carson line are before the Douglas County Planning Commission on Tuesday, both with staff recommendations for approval.

Actor and businessman Max Baer Jr. is seeking approval for his Beverly Hillbillies Mansion and Casino on property between Topsy Lane and North Sunridge Drive along the east side of Highway 395.

Baer's 295,000-square-foot property would include a casino, hotel and theater. According to documents includes with the request, the casino would include 800 slot machines and 16 table games, a buffet, steak house, coffee shop and 365-seat showroom.

The project will require a zone change from general to tourism commercial and a variety of variances to go forward.

Among the variances are an increase of the building height to 143 feet to support a 12-story tower hotel and casino, increase of the allowed sign height from 30 to 200 feet, increase maximum sign square footage from 115 square feet to 2,600 square feet for two animated reader boards and a decrease in required parking stalls from 2,707 to 1,540.

Opposition to Baer's project is coming from the other major project before planning commissioners on Tuesday

Big George Ventures is requesting approval of a planned development. The project on land purchased by Big George president Raymond Sidney, a former Google software engineer, would consist of 254 patio homes, 27 duplexes, 56 townhouses, 46 recreational vehicle spaces and 18 commons.

In her report to the planning commission, Community Development Planning Manager Mimi Moss said the plans are in accordance for the master plan for the area. The project will be called Georgetown Village.

Big George opposes Baer's project and has established a Web site to counter one set up by Max Baer is support of the Beverly Hillbillies casino.

Planning commissioners meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Douglas County Administrative Building, 1616 Eighth St. Board members may also meet for lunch at the JT Basque Bar & Dining Room in Gardnerville.

For information on the projects, visit

www.nohillbillies.com

www.jethroscasino.com