Minden forms historic district

A new historic district has been established in Carson Valley, sort of.

Minden Town Board members voted Wednesday to designate the area between First and 10th streets, Highway 395 and County Road a historic district, solely for the purpose of an ordinance under consideration by the county to require 100 hotel rooms for a casino.

Foremost in the minds of town board members is protecting a deal to lease the C.O.D. Garage to Slotworld, which has been in the works for a year.

Town board chairman Ross Chichester said he met with the district attorney, who told him there had to be a way to define where Minden wanted to be exempt from the pending ordinance.

Marlena Hellwinkel asked board members whether the district should include the old mill and creamery in the district.

"I'd hate to find out that because of a detail, they were excluded," she said.

Minden attorney George Keele said the board could add the structures later with no problems.

Minden residents don't have to worry about getting approval from the historic district to do renovations, since there is no architectural review board as there is for historic districts in Genoa, Carson City or the Comstock.

Commissioners discussed the ordinance sought by the Carson Valley Inn, Topaz Lodge and Sharkey's during the regular meeting on Thursday.

Both Gardnerville and Minden oppose the ordinance, saying it affects the flexibility they have in attracting businesses to their downtowns.

Proponents say they've got an investment in the community and provide funding in the form of room tax, something a casino without an associated hotel wouldn't do.

Carson Valley Inn spokesman Bill Henderson attended Wednesday's meeting but did not speak on the issue.