Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 17

Reno Evening Guettc Angry Idlewild Drive residents ask Reno council for down-zoning A spokesman for Media Wett said that the company has Invested more than $10,000 In improving the conditions of the benches since a change of ownership In December. The spokesman said the company should be Judged on Its good Intentions since then. The council, however, gave Media West 30 days to remove Its 200 benches from city streets. TWIN OFFICE TOWERS: Construction of twin 10-story office towers on the corner of Liberty and Sierra streets was approved by the counc'l. The twin towers will include 100,000 square feet of office space on 62 acres.

Developer Robert Hardy told the co'incil that he plans tor move the Sierra House mansion, which has occupied the Sierra Street site since the early 1'jOOs, to South Virginia Street, where it will be restored into a office building and restaurant. The house will be moved in July or. August, according to Hardy. RANCHO SAN RAFAEL BOND QUESTION: The actual wording of a bond question that will deter- mine future development of Rancho San Rafael north of Reno was approved Tuesday by the council. The bond question which voters will decide on the June 5 general election ballot reads, "Shall Washoe County, Nevada, be authorized to issue not exceeding $9,000,000 general obligation park bonds, payable from general (ad valorem) taxes.

The proposed city-county purchase of the ranch for a regional park has been the subject of debate for more than a year. The ranch was acquired by the state Public Employees Retirement System last year. Washoe County and Sparks residents will also vote on the bond question. KIETZKE LANE CAR WASH-SHOPPING CENTER: The council unanimously approved construction of a large shopping center-car wash on the corner of Kietzke Lane and Grove Street. The complex which will be build on three acres will include 26,000 square feet of commercial space and 9,400 square feet office space.

2 candidates hit rate increase Two Reno City Council Ward 4 candidates have called for city action to try to head off a proposed Sierra Pacific Power Co. rate Increase. Both Rusty Rubin and Ivy Sloan urged city intervention against the recently filed rate hike application. "The Public Service Commission is a rubber stamp for Sierra Pacific Power Company," Ms. Sloan said.

"We can no longer depend on the Public-Service Commission to adequately scrutinize proposals which continuously bleed the city's residents. "If elected to the City Council I will see that the council no longer remains silent as it has in the past," she said. Urging the City Council to "take a strong stand," Rubin said, "The people of Reno pay a franchise fee Schlesinger sets meet with Laxalt through that company to the city every month. The city should use some of that revenue to protect cir families from the endless rate hikes. The council should take a leadership position In standing up to the power comapny and fighting the increases in the cost of living in Reno.

The city attorney should be directed to intervene in this case on behalf of the pwjpie of Reno, and if I'm on the council, that's what I'll vote to do. That's my Idea of leadership." Ms. Sloan pledged to try to bring before the pub-he those issues that affect local residents. "Mayre persons now making these decisions for mpre money were not affected by the shortages in recent years the 1977 drought whereby the residents minimized their water usage," she said. "Those of us who were are now being rewarded with this rate increase.

If anything, we should be receiving a refund from Sierra Pacific." Rubin and Ms. Sloan are two of the six candidates vying for the Ward 4 (Northeast Reno) council seat in the May 8 primary election. Others in the race are incumbent Clyde Biglieri, Joe McClelland, Divine Ruth Turner and Robert Friend. By BOB LEWIS A group of Reno residents seems to be taking local planning Into Its own hands. Still angry over a proposed condominium development In the middle of their Idlewild Drive neighborhood along the Truckee River, several residents asked the Reno City Council Monday to give them the chance to change the zoning of a high-density lot In the middle of the low-density neighborhood.

The council voted 6 1 to refer their request to the Regional Planning Commission. The proposed zone change will go before the commission next month. The high-density zoning along Idlewild Drive was originally approved by the council in l'JfJ to allow expansion of the Riverside Convalescent Hospital. Since then, however, the land has changed ow ner-ship and was subdivided into two high-density lots. Developer Perry M.

Dl Loreto acquired one of the two parcels and proposed construction of a riverfront condominium complex. And that's when the local residents got upset. Di Loreto's project as not approved by the council In part because of mass opposition by local residents. But opponents of the project went a step further Monday, asking the council to protect the neighborhood and "the unique characteristics" of the land adjacent to the Truckee River from commercial encroachment. "This neighborhood is not in transition," said former city Councilwoman Pat Hardy Lewis.

"It's a stable neighborhood in which residents have invested a lot of money." Other spokesmen cited California and United States Supreme Court rulings which have upheld down-zoning of property. Normally, only developers or local government agencies initiate zone changes. Councilman Ed Oaks voted against giving the local residents the chance to change the zoning, saying it was unfair to Di Loreto. "This is completely out of order," Oaks said. "Here we are changing the zoning of a man's property and, hell, he's not even here." ARLINGTON TOWER CONDOMINIUM CONVERSION: Conversion of the Arlington Towers apartment complex into 195 condominiums as unanimously approved by the council According to developers, current tenants will be given first right of refusal to purchase their apartments as condominiums.

Fourteen apartments will continue to be rented for "hardship cases," who are unable to purchase their apartment as a condominium and are unw illing to move, according to developers. CITY' BUS BENCHES: Reno ill get a new set of bus benches this summer. The council rejected a final appeal by Media West to continue maintaining its bus benches along city bus routes. The council refused to reconsider its earlier cancellation of the Media West contract. Spoon said he was "personally distressed" by the conditions of the bus benches some only a few inches off the curb, others virtually in the middle of fields.

Spoon also said the benches are uncomfortable, unsightly and dangerous. DO YOU FEEL SECURE? Ym Ii-r Ir J4mpan i pleaded to announce the opening of their office Offering uniformed wcurit patrol. wl rapli and in etiame service. Affliliatfd ith Dick Pierce heading the (iniform security patrol diiion fill be Captain Tom Sutherland. 63 kcwone Suite 106 Keno.

8J503702) 32V-6630 high-growth areas," Laxalt said. EASY LIVING You must see to appreciate the superb view from this spotless 2 bedroom town-house. Air conditioned and tastefully decorated. $73,900.00 J9L mm i I erce 3k Preschool 3 WASHINGTON Energy Secretary James Schlesinger will meet Wednesday with Sen. Paul Laxalt.

to discuss the gasoline shortages in Nevada, Laxalt said Monday. The Nevada senator said he had invited Sens. Howard W. Cannon, and Dennis DeConi-ci and Barry Goldwater of Arizona. Laxalt said he will ask Schlesinger to move immediately to assure that areas of significant growth like Nevada be considered in determining gasoline allocations.

"Current federal guidelines don't take factors into consideration in determining allocations and unfairly penalize ompany fHC. 519Forst Street REALTORS 323-4123 Bumper Sweepstakes Is Back! GOOD ft 4 I A Winner The Wallpaper Emporium 1 WKK 742 WG3172 WDA 854 08921 ST 189 WLA 232 NYH 330 WKS 605 WEK 000 WLA 320 Sinclairs Oriental Textures GRASSCLOTHS and CORKS BUY ONE ROLL AT REGULAR PRICE AND GET THE SECOND ROLL FOR ONLY 1. SAVE Bumper Sweepstakes is back! If you see your license plate number here, call 786-8989 Ext. 266 before 5 p.m. tomorrow to claim your share of the $50 daily cash prize.

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES No purchase is necessary. Here's all you enter: do to ON WALLPAPER BOOKS OVER 125 SELECTED CUSTOMER ORDER BOOKS ON READY-MADE Ti if rF 1 AO if it eppears Friday through Sunday, you have until 5 p.m. the following Monday to call. Reno Newspape'S reserves the right to verify vehicle ownership in case of duolica'e claims. 3.

PRIZES. Daily Cosh Prizes: $50 Every day from March 18 through April 28, 1979, $50 will be divided among that day winners. Grand Prize: $500, $300, $100 Everyone has a chance to win one of the three grand prizes because every license plare number spotted during the contest will be included the Grand Pnze Drawing whether they were published or not. All prize money ($3,000) will be awarded and a complete list of winners will be published in the Sunday Gazette-Journal on May 6 1979. Participation in the contest constitutes permission to use your name ond or photograph in publicity if yu are a winner.

4. ELIGIBILITY. Employees and their families of Reno Newspapers, their advertising ogency and distributors of the Reno Evening Gazette and Nevada State Journal are not eligible to win. rO DRAPERIES 1. HOW TO PLAY.

Pick up a free TAKE A GOOD LOOK bumper slicker at the Gazette and Journal Circulation Department, 411 W. Second Street; Reno; ask your newspaper corner or dealer fcr one; or call 786-8989, Ext, 266 and we'll moil bumper strip to you. Afix the sticker to the rear bumper or tape it in the rear window of your licensed vehicle Bumper sticker spot'ers will be on the lookout 'or vehicles displaying an official contest sticker and license plate numbers of each vehicle spotted w'll be recorded. 2. HOW TO WIN.

Ten license p'ate numbers, randomly drawn, will be published daily in the Gazette and Journal from Sunday, March 18 through Saturday, April 28, 1979. They will also be posted in the lobby of the Gazette and Journal building, 401 Second Reno. If vour license plate number appears Monday through Thursday, you have until 5pm the following day to call 786-8989, Ext. 266 and win Sale ends April 28th EHirDsaTtDe TV. I A RE iu rArv lull I llDIDflXOIV IN STOCK WALIPAPERNAWMES I I I LM ebatrn tate journal Reno Evening Gazette Silver Stat Hme, Sparkt, McCorrM I Pmt STOK HOURS 10-7 FRIDAY 10 SATURDAY lO I KVV.

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