Sunridge casino height variance clears first hurdle

Officials said they expect people won't see a 100-foot-high casino for the trees once the landscaping around a Sunridge casino is mature.

A 100-foot height variance and zoning changes were approved for the 43-acre Goldtown Casino Resort by the Douglas County Planning Commission on Tuesday.

"It's a good project, it's already been approved and the height doesn't bother me that much," said Commissioner Matt McKinney. "Once the trees are mature, no one is going to even notice, so I'm all for it."

A landscaped barrier is planned for the project on two sides, the plan designating pines.

"They've made the project better," said Commissioner Mike Olson. "They've relocated it to the right place. It's a good project."

Planning staff recommended a denial of the request, which did not meet the necessary criteria for a variance, said Associate Planner Brandy McMahon.

"I couldn't make the finding based on the topograpic conditions, so I called the applicants and asked them to justify this variance," said McMahon. "In general residents accepted the project, but had concerns with 100-foot height."

Douglas County resident Jim Slade said there was no compelling reason to approve the height variance, which has no public benefit and only accommodates the developer.

"Not one required finding has been met," he said. "They received a court-ordered variance and now they're asking for more. Why should they get more than twice of what the development code allows?"

The height variance is needed for a small area in the center of the casino and hotel, the roof line sloping downward. The additional height is not productive space, but a flat roof would destroy the character of the project, said architect Lee Loveland.

"By combining the hotel with 300 rooms, the economics of the project improve significantly," Loveland said. "This project will bring millions in business revenues to Douglas County."

The maximum height allowed in general commercial and tourist commercial/general commercial overlay districts, without a variance, is 45 feet.

The height variance, as well as zone changes and special use permit, were approved by a 4-2 vote Tuesday. Commissioners Jim Madsen, Bob Conner, Matt McKinney, and Mike Olson approved the project and commissioners Rick Ross and Margaret Pross cast the two dissenting votes. Commissioner Lawrence Howell left before the vote.

Madsen said a precedent was set by the Board of County Commissioners when they approved a 143-foot height variance for the proposed Jethro Bodine's Beverly Hillbillies Mansion & Casino hotel towers near Topsy Lane.

"I voted against the (143-foot) height variance from the start, but the county commissioners overrode that," Madsen said. "You can't give a variance to one and not the other. I'm for giving them the height variance and approving the project."

"I'm not willing to throw my hands up in the air and ignore fact that this project does not meet the required findings, just because commissioners Jim Baushke, Kelly Kite and Nancy McDermid ignored our decision," said Commissioner Margaret Pross. "That's not a good reason to approve this project.

"The information on affordable housing is also incorrect and unreliable. I can't go along with the project," she said.

Located on the southeast corner of Highway 395 and South Sunridge Drive, the 45-acre Goldtown Casino project will be built in two phases.

The zoning change approved Tuesday allows developers to angle the project, moving it further south on the property and further away from adjacent neighborhoods.

This project is the last piece of the Sunridge puzzle and developers have learned a little since it was first approved in 1992. The change is a significant improvement when compared to the original plan, said Jim Cavilia, Goldtown spokesman and attorney.

"We have the opportunity to improve that plan and make this hotel casino more compatible with adjacent uses," he said. "We've oriented the building to have a minimal impact on valley views, much less than the project currently approved."

Located on the southeast corner of Highway 395 and South Sunridge Drive, the 45-acre Goldtown Casino project will be built in two phases.

Phase one includes the hotel and 92,000 square feet of casino space, 50,000 square feet of retail outlet shopping, restaurants and a convention facility. Costs are estimated at $125 million for the first phase, according to information from American Vantage Companies.

Phase two includes a parking garage, conference center, event center, casino expansion, retail space, spa and wellness center, according to information from county officials.

• Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.