EDITOR:
The Record-Courier reports that the county has received a report prepared by Jeff Codega, who appears to have some professional qualifications in this area, analyzing the Walmart project's compliance with the Virginia Ranch Specific Plan. His conclusion is that "... the proposal clearly falls well short of meeting the specific plan's planning and design criteria."
The county should take Mr. Codega's report seriously. It may be tempted to dismiss it because he apparently has some professional affiliation with Scolari's, which no doubt has a commercial interest in what happens with Walmart. That would be unfair. And would mean also dismissing any input from Walmart itself, which has an even greater commercial interest in this matter.
The whole point of the review process is to seek input from anyone who has something to offer and then to consider that input on its merits. If it has merit, factor it into the decision. If not, dismiss it. But don't dismiss it simply because of the source.
I suspect Mr. Codega's input has merit. The first finding required for design review approval is that the project conforms to our plans and regulations. If it does not, then the project must either be denied or the relevant plans and regulations modified.
The Virginia Ranch Specific Plan was submitted to and approved by the county and now has the same meaning as any of our other plans and regulations. The regulations also specify clearly the procedures for amendment of a specific plan.
There have been reports in The R-C previously that the Virginia Ranch Specific Plan contemplates what I would call a town center design for the commercial development there. Minden Village is probably the best local example of that approach. Walmart is, of course, the opposite. Now we have Mr. Codega's report essentially saying the same thing, that the specific plan calls for something entirely different than what Walmart has proposed.
It seems to me that to proceed with its project Walmart must, at minimum, apply for amendment of the specific plan, to make it conform to what is now proposed, since it is unlikely that a Walmart could be made to fit a "town center" plan.
That would provide for a more complete review of this project, including hearings before the planning commission and county commission. And it would give us all the opportunity to have the discussion with the county that has not really taken place, about just what kind of commercial future is appropriate for Gardnerville.
Whatever your desire with regard to Walmart, approval or not, I hope we could all agree that what is done should be done properly.
Terry Burnes
Gardnerville
