Variances sought for pedestrian bridges

Two Las Vegas Strip hotel-casino owners will appear Wednesday in front of the Clark County Commission to seek variances related to a controversial pedestrian bridge proposal.

Mirage Resorts and the Venetian hotel-casino will ask that setback requirements for the pedestrian bridge and its decorative features be reduced.

The overpass, which will link the Venetian and the Treasure Island/Mirage property, was approved by the Clark County Planning Commission on Jan. 19 despite a debate about its location.

Most pedestrian bridges on the Strip are no farther than 170 feet from a major intersection; this overpass is 900 feet from the intersection of Spring Mountain Road and Las Vegas Boulevard.

To be awarded the variance, the two hotel-casinos must prove a legal hardship. The Planning Commission's decision was appealed by a neighbor, who claimed that the reasons for hardship were inadequate.

The Venetian and Mirage have said finding a location for the bridge is difficult because of the lake at Treasure Island and its accompanying boardwalk viewing area.

Critics of the $4 million bridge, which will be paid for by the casinos, have said allowing a bridge in the middle of the block will set an unwanted precedent for other properties.

The Clark County Commission rejected the Flamingo Hilton hotel-casino's proposal to build a bridge linking the resort to Caesars Palace. The Hilton has since filed a lawsuit.

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