Thursday, April 23, 1998 | 11:06 a.m.
Residents near McCarran International Airport, concerned about disclosure laws that affect their property values, argued Wednesday against a plan that would expand the official noise zone of the airport.
Under the expansion, their homes would fall into the zone and they would have to disclose this fact in any pending sale of their property.
After hearing two hours of testimony, the County Commission decided to put off a decision until May 20 and ordered staff to make revisions that property owners would find more acceptable.
The plan calls for expanding the 12-year-old airport environs map to include areas where the noise level is 60 decibels or higher. It is currently set at 65 decibels.
The law also would require disclosure to prospective homebuyers and soundproofing of additions to existing buildings. It also would require applicants seeking zoning changes to notify the board that they fall inside the buffer zone.
Owners complained such requirements would restrict development and home sales. State laws require that sellers disclose any problems that might affect a prospective homebuyer's decision.
Airport planner Jacob Snow said future homebuyers had a right to know about the noise levels caused by planes landing and taking off at McCarran.
Commissioner Bruce Woodbury recommended grandfathering in existing homes and businesses, to make them exempt from disclosures under any expansion of the noise zone.
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