Longtime planning commissioner will resign

A key Carson City planning commissioner will leave his post early instead of facing the arduous task of rebuilding the city's master plan, he said Wednesday.

After 11 years on the commission and facing retirement, Allan Christianson said he is not able to commit to the extra work needed to update the city plan after participating in the 1996 master plan process.

"I figure 11 years is enough for anybody," Christianson said. "It would be a good time for the board to have some new blood."

Recently, the city began a process to update a citywide master plan to include planning for residential, commercial and industrial zoning, parks and recreation, utility and other planning to keep up with future city growth and direction. The city expects to take the next few years to complete the project.

Christianson, 64, moved to Carson City in 1979 to manage a warehouse on Hot Springs Road for Jockey International. He then opened the House of Christianson carpet store which became Rogers Carpet One. For the past 11 years, he has operated New York Life, an insurance company. He plans to retire within a year.

"I still have a lot of vim and vigor and like to return things to the community," Christianson said.

The longtime city volunteer will continue his public service as a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Nevada.

Besides his work with the city, Christianson was man of the year in 1985 and involved with the Chamber of Commerce for eight years, was fund-raising chairman for the Nevada Day activities and served with the American Cancer Society for 15 years.

Through the years, Christianson has faced several contentious and heavy-duty planning decisions, including locating Costco in South Carson City, developing the 1996 master plan, growth management planning, selling Fuji Park for retail development and many neighborhood battles.

"It is very interesting work," Christianson said. "Sometimes I feel like King Solomon - which half of the baby would you like? When things become so difficult you don't know which way to go, you kind of have to rely on people's sense of fairness."

Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.