Redevelopment zone scaled down

In an effort to keep Carson City's auto dealers in town, city leaders on Thursday grouped the Carson Street dealerships into the city's second redevelopment zone

Carson City Redevelopment Authority, made up of the mayor and city supervisors, unanimously approved a pilot project that called for designating property currently used for auto sales and properties adjacent to those as a redevelopment district.

Officials agreed to scale down the original proposal that would have designated the entire South Carson Street commercial district as a redevelopment zone. By refining the language to include only auto sales property, Mayor Ray Masayko said he could support the plan "reluctantly."

Supervisors supported the plan that would collect a portion of property tax from designated properties and allow the city to have more say in what could be done with the lots that could potentially be abandoned if an auto mall is developed.

"This is very crucial to what incentives we can offer those auto dealers," Supervisor Shelly Aldean said. "I think this is a reasonable compromise."

Carson City Area Chamber of Commerce executive officer Larry Osborne told officials the chamber board could support a pilot project for South Carson Street as a way to retain auto sales but was strongly against blanketing the city with redevelopment districts.

A preliminary plan written by a city work group made up of business, community and city leaders outlined an intention to turn commercial areas at South Carson, North Carson streets and East Highway 50 into redevelopment districts.

At the heart of the Chamber's concern was the use of eminent domain, Osborne said.

"The Chamber's support does not extend to the entire plan," Osborne said. "Eminent domain remains our biggest concern. The chamber is still concerned the power could or would be used."

Eminent domain used in redevelopment would give the city the right to take private property for public use by paying its owner fair-market value. The pilot project severely limits the city's authority to use eminent domain powers, allowing it only if its use is connected to retaining auto sales.

Masayko said he was not convinced implementing redevelopment districts was the "right tool to use right out of the box." He was especially against using eminent domain, he said.

"I can never buy off on this," Masayko said. "This is an excessive use of government authority. It's not good government. It's not appropriate. Blight is not going to be cured by this."

The mayor changed his vote in support of the pilot project after it was reworded to only include auto sales and property directly north and south of dealership property.

With Thursday's approval, the pilot plan will be sent to the city's Planning Commission for public comment and review. If it gets the commission's recommendation, it would then be sent to the Board of Supervisors for final approval before it would be implemented.

City staff will contact affected property owners and take public comment before final plans are approved, said City Manager Linda Ritter.

Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.