Large commercial project proposed for Gardnerville

A proposed 1.5 million-square-foot commercial center and business park for the south end of the Valley will be reviewed by Gardnerville Town Board members at their regular meeting 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The subject site, which sits near the intersection of Highway 395 and Pinenut Road, contains roughly 140 acres currently zoned agricultural land and receiving area. Town staff is recommending approval of two master plan amendments and one zoning map amendment that would allow the following:

n A master plan amendment to change 39.82 acres of receiving area into commercial, 20.22 acres of agricultural land into commercial, and 62.18 acres of agricultural land into receiving area;

n A zoning map amendment to change 60 acres of agriculture/19-acre minimum zoning into general commercial;

n A master plan amendment to remove the eastern portion of the site from the East Valley Community Plan Area and to place it within the Minden/Gardnerville community boundary and urban service boundary (within town water and sewer service), and to relocate Pinenut Road as it intersects with the proposed Muller Parkway.

According to a report by RO Anderson representative Keith Ruben, the applicant Peri Enterprises, LLC, is proposing 653,000 square feet of commercial floor area for the corner of Highway 395 and the future Muller Parkway. Furthermore, the applicant is proposing new receiving area that would accommodate an additional 855,000 square feet of industrial and research park space.

"The future commercial development of the site is anticipated to provide approximately 1,400 employment opportunities not including temporary employment opportunities for construction services," Ruben stated. "The proposed master plan amendment provides a well-located commercial site located on the east side of Highway 395, which will attract new businesses to the region. Additionally, the project is located adjacent to established commercial areas and future residential neighborhoods. The site will provide retail and job opportunities that residents routinely travel long distances for."

A conceptual site plan provided by Anderson includes three anchor tenant stores ranging in size from 100,000 square feet to 140,000 square feet; nine other buildings in the commercial area ranging in size from 22,500 square feet to 47,000 square feet; and 19 buildings proposed for the business park ranging in size from 30,000 square feet to 67,000 square feet.

"The location of the site relative to other planned development in the area encourages compact development patterns rather than small individual strip development projects," Ruben said.

In a June 11 letter to the county, Gardnerville Town Engineer Jennifer Roman raised half a dozen questions about the development, including its degree of pedestrian-friendliness and compatibility with surrounding properties. She said the project would need to comply with the town's Plan for Prosperity and design guidelines.

Ruben said the proposed development fulfills one of the town's goals.

"The Gardnerville Plan for Prosperity, Goal 6, identifies the need to create a southern gateway to Gardnerville," he wrote. "It further states that an opportunity to create a new address known as South Valley Plaza could provide a new gateway and brand for Gardnerville as travelers enter the town from the south.

"The Peri Enterprises site, also known as the Matley Ranch, was identified by the Gardnerville Plan for Prosperity as an 'opportunity site' to provide this welcoming gateway development for Gardnerville."