EDITOR:
Well everyone who is dismayed about the new Walmart Supercenter being built in South Gardnerville better get ready for the South Valley Plaza another mega commercial development located on the corner of 395 and Pinenut Road. It is a done deal. Last Thursday the board of commissioners gave the final OK to Peri LLC and rezoned 61.9 acres of land in an agricultural receiving area to general commercial. Their approval was based on the findings that the 31.9 acres of vacant commercially zoned land available in Gardnerville was insufficient to meet the demands.
The findings did not mention, nor did the commissioners consider, the massive amounts of vacant commercial land in the county as a whole. All but one commissioner (thank you Commissioner Brady) sat in a trance as the public pointed out that 25 acres of GC zoned land intended for the Walmart Supercenter was deleted by the community development department from their 31.9-acre calculation. What this really means is that the information upon which the findings were based was false.
I wish this was the end of it, but it isn't. Last month the commissioners granted a complicated master plan amendment to Peri LLC essentially excusing them from the transfer of development rights program, a program intended to preserve agricultural lands.
Their reasoning was that Peri LLC's offer to pay for the realigning Pinenut Road and building their part of the future Muller Parkway is of comparable value to the lost TDRs.
This is bunk. The transfer of development rights is intended to preserve land not build roads. The net/net here is that the opportunity to preserve 43 acres of agricultural land has been traded for slightly more than three miles of road and an intersection which will connect to the yet to be built Muller Parkway. Facts are Peri LLC, is being rewarded for building infrastructure improvements that enhance the value of their own development.
Remember other developers have had to comply with the TDR program and build their own site improvements without a master plan amendment, notably Sierra Southwest LLC, who holds the Walmart property.
They objected to the master plan amendment on the grounds that it gave Peri LLC favorable and unequal treatment without meaningful distinction, and saw it as potential grounds for a lawsuit. Wow.
Imagine the deep pockets of Walmart suing Douglas County because our commissioners, under advisement of the community development office, lacked the courage to stick with our own plan to preserve agricultural lands
It won't stop here. Next on the horizon will be a request by the surrounding properties to have their agricultural lands rezoned as receiving areas. The argument will be that there isn't enough land available for houses because so much has been transferred to General Commercial. If you care at all about rural quality of life mark my words and pay attention. Things are indeed run by those who show up.
Donna Buddington
Gardnerville
