News briefs for May 5, 2005

Thursday, May 5, 2005 | 9:44 a.m.

Moped driver dies after crash

An elderly man died after he crashed into a van on his moped Wednesday, Metro Police said.

Gilbert Belaire, 77, was riding his 1995 Yamaha Razz north on the right side of Eastern Avenue past Hassett Avenue about 9:50 a.m. He quickly crossed into the far left lane where he ran into a 1995 Chevy Astro van driven by Maria Flores, 47, police said.

Belaire was thrown from his moped when he hit the side of the van, police said. He was taken to University Medical Center, where he died later.

Metro Sgt. Tracy McDonald said Belaire may have been trying to turn at Oakey Boulevard.

Belaire was not wearing a helmet and suffered critical head injuries, McDonald said.

County approves Hard Rock towers

The Clark County Commission on Wednesday approved the latest in a string of high-rise condominium towers beginning to pepper the Las Vegas Valley.

In a 6-0 vote, commissioners, who met as the zoning board, approved three 375-foot towers to be built adjacent to the Hard Rock Hotel at Harmon Avenue and Paradise Road.

The commission also approved a plan to scrap a shared driveway with a neighboring condominium project after hearing security concerns from Metro Police and Hard Rock executives. Instead, two individual driveways will be built.

Hard Rock executives have pegged the expansion, which will include four new restaurants and a rooftop lounge, at more than $1 billion.

Related gets more time on 61 acres

The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday gave The Related Cos. an extra two months to turn in a proposed development for the city's 61 acres, as expected.

Related and city officials are negotiating a development agreement for the city-owned land on the western edge of downtown.

The development agreement was originally due to the council by Wednesday. But city and Related officials have been saying for weeks that they would need an extension so they can have more time to draft what is expected to be a long and complex agreement.

The council on Wednesday voted 7-0 to give Related until July 22 to submit a proposed development agreement to the City Clerk's office. The council would then review the proposal during its Aug. 3 meeting.

LV OKs tower on Charleston

The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday approved plans for another downtown high-rise.

The council voted 7-0 to approve plans for a 28-story building that would be filled with 159 condominiums plus commercial-retail space. The building would be built on 0.44 acres at 1026 and 1036 Third Street, which is on the corner of Charleston Boulevard.

The land is owned by Charleston-3RD LLC.