Heliport moratorium sought

Wednesday, May 7, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, says her neighborhood is like a "mini Beirut" every day during the summer months with anywhere from 67 to 97 helicopters flying over, ferrying tourists to the Grand Canyon or other locations.

"You can't sit on the back porch and have a conversation because of the noise," from early morning to late at night, she told the Senate Taxation Committee Tuesday.

Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, who also lives in the same area, said the helicopters fly too low and out of the flight paths. "They cheat like bandits," he said.

They spoke in support of Assembly Bill 355 that would put a temporary moratorium on construction of new heliports in Clark County. The bill directs the county commission to find a new site where helicopters could take off and land without disturbing residential neighborhoods.

A company that located at the new site would gain tax breaks but there would not be any requirement for the existing companies to move to the heliport.

"We can't tell them they have to move so we gave them a little incentive," Giunchigliani said.

A company that located at the proposed new heliport would receive an exemption on the personal property tax assessed against the helicopter.

Dan Musgrove, lobbyist for Clark County, said the county hopes to have a "cursory designation of a site in January 2004." But he said a study on setting guidelines for noise would take longer. The study, he said would cost about $100,000.

Guinchigliani said there are 12 companies operating helicopters in Southern Nevada. One is considering buying noise abatement equipment and another is considering moving to another location. They pay $184,000 in sales and use taxes and $21,380 in business taxes annually.

Stephanie Garcia-Vause, a lobbyist for Henderson, said the city must have some voice in where a new heliport would be located and in the noise abatement study. She said the city would favor a location on the eastern border of the city near Railroad Pass .