Cordevista case appealed to the Nevada Supreme Court

Officials of a Reno development company that sought to build a planned-unit development in central Storey County have appealed a judge's decision on the case to the Nevada Supreme Court.

Virginia Highlands LLC sued for judicial review after the county commission rejected the company's request for a master-plan amendment to change an area designated for heavy industrial to one allowing mixed-use residential and a commercial project called Cordevista.

In September, after hearing oral arguments by attorneys for both sides, Judge Miriam Shearing of the First District Court ruled that Storey County commissioners were within their rights to reject the master-plan amendment request.

Virginia Highlands LLC Attorney Stephen Mollath has now appealed that decision to the state Supreme Court.

The Cordevista plan, had it been approved, would have allowed more than 11,000 homes on 8,600 acres, along with commercial and office projects.

Shearing had rejected Mollath's contention that the development was already consistent with the county's master plan, thereby making an amendment unnecessary.

She also rejected the company's demand for a zoning hearing the commissioners did not hold and $10,000 in damages.

Storey County Manager Pat Whitten was optimistic Shearing's decision would be upheld, "due to the soundness and decisiveness of Justice Shearing's decision as well as the quality legal counsel and advice we followed throughout the entire process."

Rob Winkle, consultant to the company on the Cordevista matter, and Mollath both declined to comment on the case while it was still in the courts.

Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-7351.