Carson City supervisors ax shopping center's sign appeal

The city's largest shopping center cannot build a 65-foot tall sign because of its possible effects on a neighboring subdivision, the Carson City Board of Supervisors said Thursday.

The board's rejection of an appeal by North Carson Crossing, home of Wal-Mart and a future Home Depot, was cheered by residents from the Northridge subdivision who turned in 40 letters objecting to the freeway sign.

Several Northridge residents spoke at the meeting, most saying that the sign would be a nuisance and wasn't necessary to draw the business that Ken Witt, manager of the shopping center, said he wanted to get by building the sign.

"I have never heard such poppycock in my life over a sign," said Northridge resident Bud Boyer, adding later, "If Wal-Mart and Home Depot don't draw him (Witt) tenants, no amount of sign will."

The shopping center can build a 45-foot tall sign approved by the city planning commission in November. The commission rejected the taller height for similar reasons cited by some supervisors and because, they said, it would set a bad precedent for future signs along the freeway.

Witt said he doesn't know if he will build a sign at all now.

The business has also invested more than $10 million in the property over the last three years, Witt said, and the sign would help keep sales tax revenue in Carson City rather than going to Douglas County.

Though the board rejected the appeal because it needed three out of the four supervisors present to overturn the planning commission's decision, the board split 2-2 on the vote. Mayor Marv Teixeira was out sick.

Supervisor Richard Staub said he understood the need for a sign but that Witt chose "the worst location possible" for it.

More people would be supportive of the sign if Witt could have proved with a study that shade or light from the sign wouldn't affect residents, said Supervisor Shelly Aldean, who also voted against the appeal.

Gary Nigro, a Northridge resident, said it was important for the board to reject the appeal because supervisors can't let a business profit at the expense of residents.

The illuminated sign, he said, would have looked like "a permanent full moon."

• Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.