Plan to address noise from airport is shelved

The last remnants of a controversial plan to expand the noise buffer zone around McCarran International Airport died Wednesday.

The Clark County Department of Aviation pulled the matter from the county commissioners' agenda.

Responding to the concerns of homeowners in the area, commissioners have watered down the language of the proposal during the last year.

Originally, homeowners living in the zone would have had to disclose that they were affected by aircraft noise when they sold their property.

Property owners complained to commissioners that this would have reduced the value of their property and that provision was taken out of the proposal.

"Since 1990, our passenger volume has increased 60 percent. The area affected by aircraft noise also has expanded so we wanted to expand the area where people would have to report this during property sales," said Adam Mayberry, a spokesman for the airport.

The proposal that was pulled Wednesday would have required some homes being constructed in the area to be have soundproofing, said Jacob Snow, assistant director of aviation and planning.

Since the proposal had been greatly altered and it appeared unlikely that consensus could be reached with neighbors of the airport, the aviation department decided to ask that it not be considered, he said. Snow added the airport may propose a new plan after a noise study is complete.

"The Federal Aviation Administration and the airlines are conducting a study on flight paths and noise," Mayberry said. "It should be complete in a year or a year and a half."

Actions that may be considered after the study is complete include the county buying more homes that are affected by aircraft noise and providing assistance to help homeowners soundproof their homes, Snow said.

State law requires that sellers disclose any problems that might affect a prospective homebuyer's decision.

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