Max Baer's sign back before commission

GARDNERVILLE " Max Baer Jr.'s sign for the Beverly Hillbillies Mansion and Casino will get a second take today.

Baer's Project One LLC is appealing a Douglas County Planning Commission denial of a variance that would allow the 109-foot, 2,423-square-foot sign along Highway 395 south of Topsy Lane.

Douglas County code allows a sign that's 30-feet tall and 115 square feet.

The sign is the last major approval required for the project to move forward. Douglas County commissioners approved Baer's hotel and casino last summer, after he disconnected the sign from the rest of the proposal.

Baer's sign, which started out as an oil derrick, is now tulip-shaped with two animated reader boards.

County commissioners rejected a proposal for a 143-foot oil derrick in January. The new design went before planning commissioners on May 13, where it was denied.

In their appeal, project proponents said the planning commission's decision "was arbitrary and capricious and was not supported by substantial evidence."

Proponents said the topography of the property creates an exceptional situation and that if constructed to county code, only the top 10 feet would be visible above the highway.

In addition, proponents say the staff report, which recommended denial of the project, was slanted against them.

"Strangely, the staff report for the resort's initial signage, which was a request for a significantly larger sign, support granting of a variance while the current staff report does not," the appeal said.

Since the early 1990s, Baer has attempted to build his casino in other locations, including Lake Tahoe, Park Lane Mall in Reno and the old Wal-Mart building in South Carson City.