County hopes to land on a good spot for tour heliport

Dan Kulin

Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003 | 9:48 a.m.

Thirteen sites in the southern part of Clark County are being considered as possible locations for a heliport from which, ideally, all Grand Canyon tours from the area would be based, County Aviation Director Randy Walker said.

The potential sites include one in Sloan, where the county bought 45 acres for about $11 million over the summer because it seems like such a good potential spot for a heliport, Walker said.

However, Henderson city officials oppose that site because they said the flights from that location would travel over many Henderson neighborhoods, Assistant City Manager Bonnie Rinaldi said.

Rinaldi said Henderson officials asked the county to consider land next to the Railroad Pass hotel instead of the Sloan site.

The Aviation Department is looking at two sites next to the casino, the one Henderson officials suggested, and another that Rinaldi said city officials don't like.

The difference between the two sites near the casino is that one is on the Henderson side of the mountain, while the other potential site, the one recommended for consideration by Henderson officials, would be hidden from nearby homes by the ridge line.

But some of those who live near the Railroad Pass sites said they don't want a heliport at either one.

About 175 people were at John A. Dooley Elementary School Wednesday night for a meeting organized by the River Mountain Ranch Estates Homeowners Association to discuss the possible heliport locations. For about 90 minutes, residents peppered officials with questions and concerns about the possible heliports.

Neighborhood resident Angelo Hernandez, 40, said he hopes the heliport goes anywhere but near Henderson.

"We don't want it. There's enough noise here already with all the flight paths overhead," Hernandez said.

Echoing the sentiments expressed by many at the meeting, Hernandez said if the heliport has to go somewhere, he'd rather see it located in the Eldorado Valley near Boulder City.

Henderson City Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers said the Boulder City site would be her choice too. But her primary concern is that the location be one that have a minimal impact on Henderson residents, she said.

County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury told those at the meeting: "Unless you become convinced it won't be a problem I'll fight against it."

The other sites being reviewed by the Aviation Department include: McCarran International Airport; the airports in Henderson and Jean; land near Henderson at the Three Kids Mine; near Sam Boyd Stadium; a site near the closed Sunrise Landfill; near the Las Vegas Beltway east of McCarran; a spot near the Silverton hotel; and Blue Diamond Road near the railroad tracks.

Woodbury said one of the reasons the list of sites is being considered is to move some of the helicopter traffic away from neighborhoods along Tropicana Avenue. The commissioner said he wouldn't just move the problem from one neighborhood to another.

Walker said all of the sites are being reviewed to see if they fit the criteria for a new heliport. The criteria include highway access, the amount of land available at a site, flight paths that avoid residential areas and cost.

Sometime in early November the Aviation Department will whittle the list of potential sites to two or three preferred locations, he said. Then those will be studied further and compared with each other to determine which site is the best for a heliport.

The County Commission will be presented with a final recommendation by the end of December, Walker said.

The state Legislature imposed a Jan. 1 deadline for counties with a population over 400,000 to study nonurban heliport locations.

Even though the county purchased the property in Sloan, Walker said that doesn't mean the Sloan site is the favored location at this point.

Instead, he said the county bought that property because it was for sale. He said there was concern if the county didn't buy the land then the opportunity to get that land might pass by. Also, he said the site does seem to be a strong candidate for a heliport.

"We think it's going to be a very strong site," Walker said. "Nevertheless, we'll still go through the process of looking at other sites."

Walker said that once the list of potential sites is cut to just a few, public meetings would be held in residential areas that might be affected.