Plans for a 152,495-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter in
south Gardnerville are in the design review process.
Commercial zoning was recently granted for the subject 25 acres along
Highway 395 between Carson Valley Medical Center and Service Drive.
The project is part of the 226-acre Virginia Ranch specific plan, which
includes more than 1,000 residential units yet to be built on other side of
the future Muller Parkway.
According to project schematics, the parking lot of the superstore will
consist of more than 400,000 square feet of pavement with 752 parking
spaces. Maximum occupancy of the building is estimated to be 4,380 people,
including an estimated 325 employees.
The store itself will include a market, pharmacy, and tire and lube center.
Improvements to the greater property will include the completion of Grant
Avenue, which will run west of the site between Muller and Highway 395, and
the relocation of a retention pond from nearby Jewel Commercial Park.
The Nevada Department of Transportation is also asking developers for a
raised median on Highway 395 that would limit access near Les Schwab Tires
to right-in/right out and left-in only, with a traffic light proposed for
the intersection of Grant Drive and Highway 395.
The Gardnerville Town Board will be examining the development application at
their Sept. 1 meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the town office, 1407 Highway 395.
Gardnerville manger Jim Park said the item will not be going before the
planning commission or county commission as zoning has already been approved
for the project. Douglas County Community Development will be handling the
design review process administratively, and the town board will be serving
in an advisory capacity, evaluating the project's compatibility with the
town's design guidelines and plan for prosperity.
"We want something clear from the town board and the town manager,"
Community Development Director Mimi Moss said on Monday.
Moss said final decision on the application is required by Sept. 21. She
said the proposed use for the site is allowed under current zoning and that
her department's job is to make sure the project conforms to county
standards.
"It's important we work with the town," she said. "It appears as though they
(the developers) are meeting minimum standards, but we need to figure out
how it will fit with the town of Gardnerville and the rest of the area."
One Walmart Supercenter already exists in north Douglas County, located in
the Carson Valley Plaza. Walmart moved to the location from south Carson
City in 2002.