Final Costco deal is delayed by details

Carson City's final deal with Costco has been delayed by details - not by a protest of a planning commission decision to issue Costco a permit, City Manager John Berkich said.

The deal negotiated between Costco and the city will be considered by city supervisors on April 20. It had been on their agenda for Thursday, but has been postponed because certain details still need to be worked out.

"This is just a slight delay," Berkich said. "We're in constant contact with the company, and everyone is still working. It's a lot to get done in a short period of time.

"The proposed agreement is just separate and apart from the nature of the appeal," Berkich added.

Gene and Judy Lepire, owners of Comstock Country RV Resort, are appealing the planning commission's Feb. 23 decision to allow Costco to build a 148,385 square-foot warehouse with 749 parking spaces and a six-pump gas station across Clear Creek Road from Fuji Park.

The Lepires share a property line with the Costco site, and the proposed building is along the same edge as the RV park.

The Lepires' attorney Richard Elmore wrote that while the Lepires did not protest Costco's construction, they were opposed to the building's placement on site, the placement of the loading dock and trash compactor next to their property and the absence of street and intersection design during the planning commission process.

They are also opposed to the increased traffic - estimated at 6,700 cars daily - to the area and the noise customers and trucks unloading wares will bring.

A second appeal by the owners of Bodine's restaurant was withdrawn after the city and restaurant owners worked through access issues relating to the restaurant.

Deputy District Attorney Neil Rombardo said the city had tried and was continuing to work with the Lepires on finding a solution to their concerns.

"We've been working really hard to come up with a reasonable resolution," Rombardo said. "We have worked very hard at it. It's somewhat frustrating that we haven't come up with a solution."

Community Development Director Walt Sullivan said many issues had been addressed including access, the addition of a 6-foot noise wall between the RV park and Clear Creek Road.

Berkich said the city has also worked towards solutions on major issues such as access to the site and noise mitigation. He said Costco was working to solve concerns as well, going as far as to consider moving the building and reexamining their delivery hours. Berkich said he hoped that the issue could be resolved before Thursday.

"We want to resolve that issue if we can or at least have the board rule on on it," he said. "We have to get some resolution, but whether or not we can have it done by Thursday remains to be seen."

If supervisors uphold the planning commission's decision, the Lepires could still appeal the decision to district court, Rombardo said. If supervisors agree with the Lepires, the matter would return to the planning commission for review.

If you go:

What: Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting

When: Thursday, 1:30 p.m.

Where: the Community Center's Sierra Room, 851 E. William St.