Casino looks for special permits for signs, zoning, water

Managers of a casino that would be one of the biggest in Carson City want approval from a city commission so they can move forward with their project.

The $100 million Sierra Gold could get special permits for its size, sign, zoning and water use if approved by the city planning commission today. The plans would go to the city board of supervisors after that for final approval.

The casino that would be at the corner of Highway 50 and Lompa Lane near the entrance to the Highway 395 bypass is planned to be built on about 4.5 acres in two phases over the next few years and would have a 100,000-square-foot casino, an eight-story, 220-room hotel and stand 118 feet tall, passing the 110-foot Ormsby House as the tallest building in the city.

It is owned by Las Vegas-based Golden Gaming Inc., which runs casinos in Colorado and Pahrump and taverns throughout the state, including Sparky's in Carson City.

Work will start next year on the lodge-styled resort that will be the most modern casino in the city, Golden Gaming Vice President Rod Atamian has said.

The casino's hotel would be the biggest in the city and the sign would be second tallest at 44 feet, behind North Carson Crossings 65-foot sign.

The height of the sign, size of the casino, amount of water it uses and the zone switch to commercial on one part of the land need to be approved by the commission or the casino will have to have to appeal to the board of supervisors to reverse the decision.

Mike Vetrano, project manager from Las Vegas-based Steelman Partners, said he didn't know the exact schedule for building yet because "it all depends on what goes on" at the meeting.

The city planning department recommended the commission approve most of the casino's requests, but asked that the casino doesn't have flashing signs, based in part on concerns of people living nearby, said Planning Director Lee Plemel.

Thirteen people, most from Esther Circle, said they were concerned about problems including lights, traffic, pollution, noise and safety.

"There's already too much noise from the freeway, ambulances, construction and we do not need anymore lighted signs to inhibit our sleep," Judy Harm of Royal Drive said in a letter to the city.

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