Nearby business joins opposition to thrill ride

Diana Sahagun

Monday, May 6, 2002 | 11:08 a.m.

A long-standing business next to the Stratosphere has joined the fray over the casino's proposed thrill ride, saying the casino has refused to release traffic and noise studies that would show how the ride would affect the area.

Alarmco, which has been at its site across the street from the Stratosphere since 1980, has concerns over the noise and vibrations that would be caused by the proposed 700-foot thrill ride, which would drop riders down the tower, across Las Vegas Boulevard, and up a steel tower fronting Paradise Road.

The company hired local attorney Jeff Silvestri, who has requested traffic and noise studies performed by the Stratosphere, but as of this morning there had been no resolution. Other concerned neighbors have been requesting the studies for months.

Stratosphere officials have spoken of traffic and noise studies that they say show little impact on the surrounding neighborhood, but have not presented them to the city, residents or nearby businesses.

With the issue set to come to a head at 7 p.m. Thursday, when the Stratosphere is scheduled to present its plans to the Las Vegas Planning Commission, those opposed wonder how commission members can make a decision without having time to review the reports.

Attorney John Moran Jr., who represents the Stratosphere, did not return calls seeking comment.

In a letter sent to the Stratosphere and commissioners, Silvestri said Alarmco is concerned by the amount of noise and vibrations that would be caused by the thrill ride, because its building -- constructed in 1957 -- contains asbestos.

While OSHA has tested the interior of the building and confirmed no danger exists of asbestos exposure to the employees, Silvestri wrote that if the thrill ride causes substantial vibrations, it could disturb the asbestos.

The ride's tracks would be 100 feet south of Alarmco's property line on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Alarmco is also concerned about the effect of noise and vibration on its equipment. Alarmco currently monitors 25,000 burglar and fire alarms through a network of phone lines, monitors and computers.

"Vibrations associated with the structure of the roller coaster or the noise created by the roller coaster could create false alarms of Alarmco's equipment," Silvestri wrote, adding that the Las Vegas Fire Department imposes fines of $1,000 per false alarm.

Residents living east of the Stratosphere have been fighting the ride since it was proposed late last year, saying it is not compatible with the growing community and conflicts with the city's plans to support downtown living.

Ben Contine, a resident of the Beverly Green neighborhood, said area has been requesting the noise and traffic studies for months, to no avail. He said businesses, residents, and commissioners should be able to view the studies before a final vote is made.

"The Stratosphere has asked us to completely accept on faith that an over 600-foot roller coaster is going to make almost no noise and create no traffic problems," he said.

"One of the criteria that the Planning Commission is supposed to look at is if it's going to be conducive to the surrounding neighborhood," Contine said. "The fact that nobody has seen these studies and the Stratosphere has refused to show anybody the studies, I think certainly brings up a lot of questions."