County to acquire 8,800 acres of BLM property

Adrienne Packer

Monday, March 4, 2002 | 9 a.m.

The Bureau of Land Management is expected to turn over 8,800 acres of federal land to Clark County, which can either sell or use the property for public purposes, such as parks.

Though county officials said the transaction is routine, it typically involves about 300 acres. Because acquisitions are a lengthy process, the policy was changed to allow more acreage with fewer acquisitions.

About 5,100 acres is in the southwest near Rainbow Boulevard, Hualapai and Wigwam roads.

Alan Pinkerton, assistant planning manager for the Department of Comprehensive Planning, said developers request property and the county acquires it from the federal government.

Developers then bid on the land. Eighty-five percent of the money is placed in the BLM's coffers to purchase sensitive land, 10 percent is funneled to the Southern Nevada Water Authority and 5 percent is given to schools.

Unlike McCarran International Airport's controversial land disposal policy, which allows trading, Pinkerton said the county entertains sales only.

"It's done this way because of the issues associated with land swaps," Pinkerton said. "People were flipping the land and making double the amount. This takes care of all that."

To prevent influencing the bidding process, Pinkerton said the BLM hires an outside company to conduct the bids.

If developers want to change the zoning on a parcel from the designation listed in county land use guides, they must request the change from county commissioners.

Pinkerton said the county also benefits. For example, during the past acquisitions process, county officials kept BLM property in the wetlands to help preserve the park.

Up to 25 percent of the funds directed back to the BLM are allowed to be used for federal park improvements. In the past, the money has been used to develop trails at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Mount Charleston. It has also been used to fix boat ramps and improve camp sites at Lake Mead.

A public hearing on the land acquisitions is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday.