Hospital parking approved for airport land

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002 | 9:31 a.m.

Restrictions attached to 5,800 acres controlled by McCarran Internation Airport were questioned again Tuesday, when Clark County commissioners were asked to lift conditions to help a hospital project move forward.

Aviation Director Randy Walker convinced the board to amend the county's noise compatibility code to allow parking lots for hospitals.

The two northwest parcels are within McCarran International Airport's cooperative management area --land designated for development that will not conflict with the airport's noisy flight paths.

Hospitals are listed as a "non-compatible" use, but because the land was already owned by private developers, the airport has no control over the use of the property.

Conditions placed on management area land acquired through the airport allows for parking lots, which prompted Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates to question why an amendment is needed.

Restrictions allow parking lots, but they prohibit projects that enhance an incompatible use, such as a hospital, on adjacent properties.

The parking lots are part of a new hospital at Fort Apache and Sunset roads. The hospital is being built by HCA, the nation's largest for-profit hospital chain.

Walker said the land is on the outer fringe of the cooperative management area and, therefore, doesn't cause as much concern as property that sits directly under low-flying aircraft.

When some 5,800 acres of cooperative management land was turned over to the county by the Bureau of Land Management two years ago, the federal government required restrictions to keep out projects involving hotels, hospitals and homes.

Walker said the restrictions are too stringent when it comes to some projects.

"We look at this case by case," Walker said. "They can build this hospital without this piece; this just makes it easier for them."

Walker told the board Tuesday's action was the first time the restrictions had been lifted to allow a parking lot. But the airport asked for -- and was granted -- a similar request during the commission's Jan. 15 meeting.

Gragson Oquendo, a real estate broker firm, was granted permission to build a parking lot that will accompany a medical complex being built on Warm Springs Road between Buffalo and Durango drives.

Gragson Oquendo is managed by Scott Gragson, a real estate broker who has by far engaged in the most deals with the airport for cooperative management area land.

Deputy Airport Director Rosemary Vassiliadis said the restrictions were lifted for that project because it spanned property included in the management area, and land that is not in the area.

"The project is at the far end of the area where it is rather checkerboard," she said.