Supervisors voted today to continue to consider the appeal of Kent Witt, manager of North Carson Crossing shopping center, who has asked the board to overturn the planning commission rejection of a 65-foot-tall freeway sign.
Supervisors had said they rejected the appeal on Jan. 3 when they voted 2-2, but Melanie Bruketta, Carson City Chief Deputy District Attorney, said the board made no decision because the vote was a tie.
Witt had also told the board he wanted time to respond to the concerns of residents in the Northridge subdivision near the proposed site of the sign. He has said he needs the sign to advertise stores such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot, but residents have said the sign is intrusive and unnecessarily large.
Richard Staub, the only supervisor to vote against the continuation, said Northridge residents will think the board has given Witt "a second bite of the apple." The continuation also broadens the board's power to consider an appeal, he said.
Other supervisors said the continuation does not mean the sign is approved and will give Witt and Northridge residents more time to reach a compromise.
Northridge resident Gary Nigro said Witt should submit his request to the planning commission again if he wants his proposal reconsidered.
The planning commission rejected Witt's proposal Nov. 28 but did approve a 45-foot-tall sign. The commission is looking at rules for signs along the freeway and has called a moratorium on permits for signs above 30 feet.
The shopping center is the largest in the city.
- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.