Carson City Planning Commission denies request to amend code

Carson City won't issue special use permits allowing certain large commercial vehicles to be parked in residential areas. However, some planning commission members voiced qualified support for the idea.

Commissioners denied Gregory Petersen's request Wednesday night to amend the municipal code to allow commercial vehicles no longer than 22 feet, no taller than 10 feet and no heavier than 10,000 pounds of gross vehicle weight to park on private residential property.

Petersen uses a business panel van in his home plumbing service.

Under current ordinances, while commercial vehicles of this size and weight cannot be parked on residential parcels less than an acre, non-commercial and recreation vehicles can be.

Petersen cited this legal distinction in his presentation to the Committee, and Commissioner Richard Wipfli said he saw "an inequity" in permitting residential parking by large vehicles simply because they don't have a commercial purpose.

Commissioners Roger Sedway and William P. Mally said they'd support introducing more flexibility into Carson City's commercial vehicle parking regulations.

But commission staff member Rob Joiner said that people in situations akin to Petersen's who complied with the city code would be "misserved" by changing ordinances now.

Deputy District Attorney Neil Rombardo said a special use permit would not be the proper method of waiving the commercial parking prohibition.

And he cautioned that inconsistent application of parking ordinances could open the city to liability under the equal protection clauses of the U.S. and Nevada constitutions.

Rombardo's explanations came at the prompting of Petersen's neighbor Donald Wagner, who said Petersen's "request is clearly unfair to all residential lot owners in Carson City."

n In other moves, commissioners approved modification of the zoning and the construction of a new office and maintenance building at Lone Mountain Cemetery.

Carson City Parks and Recreation Department director Steve Kastens assured commissioners the design and construction of the closely located buildings would be aesthetically consistent.

Commissioners also gave the go ahead to an auto body shop on property on Highway 50 East.

Jim Alger, whose residence backs the property, said "body shops are wrecking yards that create noise and reduce property values." Commissioner Alan Rogers said he wished he'd known about Alger's objections before the meeting.

But Eugenio Basa, the permit applicant and body shop owner, said he'd work with neighbors on any concerns they might have, and Alger accepted this offer of cooperation.

Commissioners also approved a special use permit allowing construction and operation of wireless digital phone equipment and antennae on the Ormsby House roof.

Besides a permit request continuance and routine permit approvals, commissioners adopted a resolution commending retiring planner Sandra Danforth for her service to Carson City.