Editorial: Shield Nellis from growth
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005 | 9:13 a.m.
The effect of Las Vegas' growth on Nellis Air Force Base first became apparent 20 years ago. At that time, Clark County and North Las Vegas adopted zoning codes that slowed the urban growth creeping toward the base's southern perimeter. Their efforts, however, weren't enough to thwart a major impact on the base. Planes carrying bombs and other live ordnance have been forced to take off from Nellis' northern runway ever since. Too many homes had been built for Nellis to risk routing armed planes from the southern runway, which, because of milder winds, had always been the preferred route for pilots heading to the Nellis Range for training.
Today, development pressure persists. In August 2002 the Clark County Commission approved the building of 52 homes just southwest of the base, within an area known as the Accident Potential Zone. Commissioners gave approvals despite objections from the Air Force. Later in 2002 a proposal was floated to build 36,000 homes at the Apex industrial park, northwest of Nellis and directly under its flight path for armed planes. That proposal was withdrawn but pressure to develop that area remains. Although the Air Force is buying land northwest of Nellis to preserve a safety zone, a development the size of the one that had been proposed for Apex could force the base to shut down.
That's why new agreements among Clark County, North Las Vegas and Nellis to restrict growth around the base have been drafted. The agreements call for cooperation between Clark County and North Las Vegas, and consultation with Nellis officials, before any land-use decisions in the vicinity of the base can be approved. North Las Vegas will vote Wednesday on the agreement and Clark County will vote next month.
Nellis Air Force Base contributes about $2 billion a year to the Southern Nevada economy. But that's not the important reason for approving the agreement. The base, with its 3-million acre range, provides some of the most realistic training that pilots will ever receive. For their sake, and the sake of national security, Nellis Air Force Base should be shielded from our never-ending growth.
Spotlight
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Cowboys Stadium poses Texas-sized threat to Vegas
- Nevada’s Democrats in House have little choice but to vote for health care bill
- GOP stands for ‘getting outta politics’ in Nevada
- Porn on street corners sullies a great destination
- House clears health bill, GOP targets Nevada Democrats
- NCAA LIVE BLOG: MWC season done in one weekend as BYU falls
- Ali strikes again as UNI upsets top-seeded Kansas, 69-67
- House poised for up-or-down vote on health care reform
- Assistant coach already has good feel for UNLV program
- UFC Live weigh-in: Jones, Vera both excited to get back to action
Blogs
Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity
Jimmie Johnson finally wins at Bristol
Elsewhere
Edmonton Oilers owner says he was 'scammed' by U.S. company (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
Cowboys Stadium poses Texas-sized threat to Vegas (44 Comments)
The Greene Room
Despite MWC missing out on NCAA tourney's second weekend, 2011 will bring similar opportunities (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
From Sammy Davis Jr. to Fred Astaire, Rick Faugno has it coverered
Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity
NASCAR drivers have memories like elephants
The Greene Room
Well what do you know ... Northern Iowa's done this before (2 Comments)
Calendar »
- 22 Mon
- 23 Tue
- 24 Wed
- 25 Thu
- 26 Fri
-
March Mayhem at Rockhouse
Rockhouse Bar & Nightclub
-
Felix da Housecat’s Cat's Meow at Jet
Jet | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
First annual MILFS Night at Blue Martini
Blue Martini | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Rhumbar presents Pink Sugar Mondays
The Mirage Hotel and Casino
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati
























