With oil derrick out of way, Beverly Hillbillies casino strikes gold

With no 200-foot oil derrick to tie them down, proponents of the Beverly Hillbillies Mansion and Casino were able to win approval of their project in northern Douglas County.

Commissioners voted 3-2 on five issues related to the project with Kelly Kite, Jim Baushke and Nancy McDermid voting in favor and Doug Johnson and David Brady voting against throughout the seven-hour hearing, which ended at 1 a.m. Friday.

Beverly Hillbillies star Max Baer Jr. asked commissioners to separate the sign from the rest of the issue.

Casino spokesman Don Smit told commissioners they were in negotiations with staff over the sign, which was unanimously panned by planning commissioners last month.

However, Smit said a request for a variance on the height of two towers was required for the project to go forward.

The height variance was denied by the Douglas County Planning Commission at their July 10 meeting. The first issue before county commissioners on Thursday was an appeal of the planning commission decision by casino proponents.

Public comment tended to be split on the issue, with principal planner Harmon Zuckerman saying letters received by the county commission were divided evenly.

"Nothing bad can come from this," resident David Schuman said. "It is in the urban interface area and isn't visible from the Valley."

Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jenney Sartin told commissioners that a survey of members revealed overwhelming support for the casino.

She said a third of the members replied to the survey and that 80 percent backed the project.

Sunridge resident Gary Wheeler opposed the casino.

"I don't want a casino in my neighborhood," he said. "You can't drive around a casino and say 'I sure want to live here.'"

Gardnerville resident Jack Van Dien said he supported the project, but thought commissioners should not approve it without knowing what impact it would have on Douglas County's budget.

The biggest opponent of the casino was its neighbor, Big George Ventures, which asked commissioners to delay approval so they could work out their differences.

Big George spokesman Robbe Lehmann told the board he didn't oppose casinos, but that the towers would rise above Georgetown affecting their property value.

During his presentation on the towers, Smit showed commissioners views of the casino from a variety of locations.

In those views, the casino sign and towers were not visible from Carson Valley.

Smit said the towers were similar in height to the Ormsby House.

"You couldn't put a Stations casino there," Smit said. "They would be asking for the same thing we are."

Baer read two letters from other developers into the record in support of the project.

Big George Ventures owner Raymond Sidney told commissioners that he was in favor of a casino in the right place.

"Maybe they need this variance because they are trying to put it in the wrong place," he said.

Kite said the project isn't what he would prefer to have on the site, but that he couldn't turn down something that would raise money for the county at the same time commissioners are seeking tax increases from residents.

McDermid said that while she opposed the derrick height, she had no problem with approving the variance for the casino towers because of the topography.

"I want to put you guys in a room until you work this out and come out with a project that really makes us say 'aha,'" she said.

Baushke said the issue came down to two things.

"Do we want a destination resort?" he asked. "I think the public opinion is weighted on the 'yes' side. Is where it is proposed the best location in the county? It is," he said.

Brady opposed the height variance saying he felt the applicant had failed to bring forward any new information and he saw no reason to overturn the planning commission decision.

"I think most people didn't move here for a mini-Vegas or mini-Reno," he said.

Johnson said he believed it would be difficult for commissioners to deny future projects seeking similar heights.

After approving the appeal of the height variance, commissioners denied Big George's appeal of the casino's special use permit and approved a zone change and gaming district overlay and the first reading of an ordinance that will allow the casino to go forward.

"The key question is how does it benefit Douglas County," Brady said during debate on the ordinance. "I don't think it does. We are pursuing more gaming when Indian gaming is up."

In a concession to Big George, casino proponents agreed to delay second reading of the ordinance until Oct. 11. A second reading of the ordinance permitting Big George to go forward was also delayed until that date in an effort to give the neighboring projects time to work out a unified plan.

Lehmann also agreed to a delay of a request by Big George Ventures to increase the density of the project by 200 units.

Smit said casino proponents would support higher density on the Big George project, but said he would not promise that the two property owners would be able to work out their differences.