Planners looking at Minden casino plans

The first step in constructing a Minden hotel-casino, shopping plaza, RV park and recreation complex near highways 395 and 88 is on the agenda for county planners next week.

The Douglas County Planning Commission meets at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Douglas County Administrative Building, 1616 Eighth St., Minden.

The property owner, Nevada Northwest LLC, submitted plans for a three-phase project on 115 acres on the west side of the Winhaven development, east of Highway 395, south of Muller Lane and north of Lucerne Drive.

When fully staffed and in operation, the complex could employ 400 to 600 workers.

The commission will consider an overlay zoning district at the northeast corner of highways 395 and 88, south of Muller Lane in Minden to provide for the following:

--13.9 acres for public use and open space areas.

--8.26 acres for for 32 mixed-use commercial units.

--10 acres as neighborhood commercial to support future commercial use.

--12.07 acres for 145 townhomes.

--30.78 acres for 138 single family residential units

-- a tentative subdivision map for 138 single-family residential lots.

The project is deemed "upscale" with a"resort complex" flavor, that combines a northern European flavor it is conceptual design in its plans.

Planners said developers want to begin building the first two phases of the operation -- the casino, recreation center, RV park, some retail and half of the 300 hotel rooms -- within two years.

The proposal is broken into three areas:

-- a North Commercial Planning Area with 252,000 square feet in commercial floor area.

-- the south commercial area on 42 acres to include the casino and hotel complex, an entertainment and bowling center, and a 100-space recreation vehicle park, restaurants, meetings rooms and retail space.

-- a residential area with 52 acres designed for 116 homes and a 274-unit apartment complex.

Divided into three subphases, phase I calls for 11,500 square feet of gaming area, 1,000 square feet of retail, 4,000 square feet of restaurant space, 4,000 square feet for a bingo center, 2,400 square feet for a banquet area, and 18,000 square feet for the bowling center.

Phase I includes 128 hotel rooms, with 132 rooms in the second phase and possibly more with an expansion phase.

The second phase also calls for additional retail and parking, with plans for gaming expansion.

Retail shops and restaurants will anchor the plaza and a clocktower within the facility that will act as a square.

Project representatives from Nevada Northwest and Anderson Engineering, who is representing Nevada Northwest, did not return phone calls as of press time.

IF YOU GO

What: Douglas County Planning Commission regular meeting

When: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15

Where: County Administrative Bldg., 1616 Eighth St., Minden