Carson City Planning commissioners on Wednesday will consider a request by Casino Fandango to add a 10-screen movie theater and 98-room hotel, as well as increase its casino size by more than 24,000 square feet.
The casino's recent proposal to build more than 180 housing units in the hillside nearby isn't part of this plan.
The affordable-housing concept is "off the table for the time being," said Ken Rose, of Metcalf Builders, who is representing Fandango. "It's scheduled for a later phase."
Fandango principals and city officials have been discussing the casino additions for about four months, said Walt Sullivan, the city's community development director.
Sullivan described the overall completion date Fandango is aiming toward, July 2007 as "ambitious."
"But I'm sure they can do it," he said.
"Everyone has to work to make that happen," Rose said of the target date, then joked, "No vacations for anyone."
The four-story hotel is expected to cost an estimated $11 million. Fandango hasn't finalized its franchise agreement for the 61,000-square-foot hotel, though it is expected to be a Marriott, possibly a Courtyard Marriott.
The movie theater, which will be more than 61,000 square feet, would cost $10 million and needs to be completed by July 2007, said John Griffin, an attorney for the casino.
"Galaxy wants it to be open for release of next summer's blockbusters," he said.
The expansion of the casino is expected to cost at least another $10 million.
Each of the three portions of the project would have more parking spaces than the city requires - more than 100 extra spaces, exceeding 1,440.
Fandango opened in summer 2003 in what had been the long-empty Supply One building. The casino was expanded once to its current size of roughly 48,000 square feet.
It is considered a redevelopment project, and is within the city's south side redevelopment district, which the Board of Supervisors expanded earlier this month to more than 440 acres and 170 parcels.
An estimated $2.4 million in improvements to Curry Street between Clearview Drive to Koontz Lane would be shared by Fandango, the city and, possibly, the Redevelopment Authority. But payment portions haven't been decided yet, said Andrew Burnham, the city's development services director.
Also being discussed are Fandango abandoning a 40,000-plus-square-foot section of Voltaire Canyon Road, and sign designs not covered by current city requirements.
Construction details will be monitored by city staff. The street abandonment must be approved by the supervisors. The agreement with the city is good for 12 months, but Fandango can ask for a 12-month continuance, if necessary, Sullivan said.
People living near the casino have said traffic, noise and more light emissions are among their chief concerns.
Total cost for the project - without the housing - is expected to exceed $35 million, say Rose and Griffin.
Fandango's parent company, Carson Gaming LLC, is based in Las Vegas.
If you go
What: Carson City Planning Commission meeting
When: 3:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Sierra Room, Community Center, 851 E. William St.
• Contact reporter Terri Harber at harbor @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.
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