Senators’ land-use proposals to be discussed

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2001 | 11:11 a.m.

Proposals to make some areas protected federal wilderness and to turn over other government land for development will be discussed this week during a series of three meetings.

Staff for Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign will host the workshops to hear public comment and discuss the impact of potential land-use changes.

The two senators in May proposed legislation, the Clark County Public Lands Bill, that would both protect sensitive environmental areas and provide room for growth. Reid, a Democrat, and Ensign, a Republican, said the only way to make such legislation viable would be to include all affected parties, including government agencies, environmentalists, businesses and others.

In May Reid said much of the bill would deal with issues along Interstate 15 from the urban area to the California state line. Clark County planners have said the area could be home to thousands of homes and businesses in the future.

The highway near Jean also is the planned home for a new major commercial airport, now slated to open in 2010 or 2011. The first meeting would be Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Blue Diamond Community Club in Blue Diamond Village.

A second meeting will be at the Reflection Bay Clubhouse at Lake Las Vegas Resort at 3 p.m. Thursday. The clubhouse is at 75 Montelago Boulevard.

The third meeting will be at the Moapa Valley Community Center, 320 N. Moapa Valley Blvd. in Overton, at 7 p.m. Thursday.