Planning commission denies Gardnerville-area storage facility after town objects to metal exterior

The Douglas County Planning Commission denied a major design review for a proposed personal storage facility at 1608 Pinet Road in Gardnerville following a divided hearing Dec. 14. The project, filed as DP21-0221 by American Recess, called for 79,215 square feet of enclosed self-storage and 60,300 square feet of covered outdoor RV/boat storage on about 25 acres. The commission voted 4-3 to deny the application after hearing competing recommendations from county staff and the Town of Gardnerville.

Sam Booth, deputy director of community development for Douglas County, told commissioners that county staff recommended approval after concluding the project met the relevant Title 20 findings and Douglas County design criteria. Booth said staff considered the Town of Gardnerville’s design guidelines but found those guidelines do not outright prohibit metal siding in industrial and employment areas and that the applicant had proposed revisions — including more earth-tone colors, added stone accents and increased evergreen landscaping — intended to address town concerns.

Town of Gardnerville Manager Eric Nielsen and several town board members told the commission the town’s adopted design guidelines must be enforced “to the greatest extent possible” within the town…