ReviewJournal.com - News - Hands off the dunes, off-roaders tell county

PRINT THIS Popular

Jan. 31, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Hands off the dunes, off-roaders tell county

By SCOTT WYLAND
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Off-road enthusiasts, from right, Kit Stokes; Clark Abecassis; Alex, who gave only his first name; and Ron Loomis listen Wednesday at a forum on the future of the Nellis Dunes.
Photo by Sara Tramiel/Review-Journal

Most off-road riders see the Nellis Dunes as a 10,000-acre playground and Clark County as the killjoy parent who wants to spoil their fun.

Off-road enthusiasts voiced concerns -- and fears -- at a forum Wednesday about the county's effort to take over from the Bureau of Land Management the dunes northeast of Las Vegas, not far from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Share & Save

What is this?

Most Popular Stories

Alleging fraud, authorities raid voter group

NORM: Simpson planned acquittal party

Nevada's economy dead last

NORM: Hard-core fans ask: Has Jacko moved?

NORM: Bobbitt trains for boxing bout in LV

NORM: Letterman gives an 'A' to O.J. jury

Judge: Attacker 'gleeful'

PALACE STATION ROBBERY: Audiotapes convicted O.J.

NORM: 13th Agassi slam another big hit

Circle of friends surrounds lost pal

Of the more than 50 people who attended the forum, most seemed skeptical, even suspicious, about the county's vision for a venue that would offer multiple tracks for varying skill levels and a large, open area for unrestricted riding.

Some asked pointed questions, while others slammed the county's history of land management.

"Every time the county puts its hand in something, we lose something," said Steve Alexander, 48, who has ridden off-road since the early 1970s.

He talked of how the county has barred off-road riding in several places it took over, including in Eldorado Valley.

Michael Popp, the county's senior planning analyst, tried to assure the audience that the chief goal was to improve the dunes as a recreation area.

The county can better police the dunes, ensure riders' safety, curb dust from vehicles and protect rare plants, he said.

Popp also argued that the dunes would be better preserved under the county's care. The city of North Las Vegas wants to extend its boundaries into the dunes and open it for development, possibly heavy industrial, Popp said.

"This is not a site that is protected," he said. He added that the BLM is under pressure to sell off land each year.

Wednesday's forum at the County Commission chambers was the second of three that the BLM is hosting this week to get feedback from the public.

The final one will be today in Henderson, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Grand Ballroom B at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St.

Congress will have the final say about whether the land is transferred to the county.

Popp, himself an off-roader, said he sympathized with riders wanting to keep things the same. But with a county of 2 million people comes a variety of riding needs that don't mesh well without some organization, he said.

Several residents said that they had nothing against Popp, who seemed to be one of them, but that they distrusted higher-ranking leaders.

"The people above you make the decisions," said Debbie Burgos, 48.

Years ago, the county shut down skateboard parks because of lawsuits, Burgos said. It also began developing large-scale parks 15 years ago that are now only a fraction of the way finished, she said.

Steve Abbott, 45, questioned why the county wants to come in, uninvited, and build tracks on land where everyone rides unrestricted.

"Commercial development," Abbott said, answering his own question.

But Popp said the dunes' proximity to Nellis Air Force Base would limit development there, in part because the area is near low-flying zones.

He said he understood people's distrust in government but insisted that Congress would impose tight restrictions on how the land is used.

"We're asking the Congress of the United States to restrict this land forever," Popp said.

Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com or (702) 455-4519.

Leave Your Comment	9 Reader Comments
Terms & Conditions The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor. Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: jhw wrote on February 03, 2008 12:35 PM: I wouldnt mind there being some kind of authority out there, there seems to be alot more people riding at nellis now. Most of which have no etiquette, nor concern for their own safety. No helmets, no regard for trail safety, even ignoring the safety of their children. If they can control that aspect of it, great, I'm for it, as well as keeping out stolen vehicles. Otherwise, leave it alone. goodandold wrote on January 31, 2008 03:43 PM: Maybe they can grow some poppies out there too dustbowls wrote on January 31, 2008 03:41 PM: Wow you mean there is still some desert left to build on??How Did they overlook it for so long? BJS wrote on January 31, 2008 02:53 PM: Michael Popp says: "the county can better police the dunes, ensure riders' safety, curb dust from vehicles and protect rare plants". Well maybe he IS right. The last thing we need is for off-roaders to be using their cell phones in four wheel drive. We definately(sp)don't need four-wheelers kicking their dust up into the Las Vegas atmosphere and letting the developers get blamed for it. And... the county is SO much better equipped to teach our kids how to take those shifting sands, potholes and mogules on their new quads, motorcycles and Toyota 4wd's than their fathers are! Oh, and don't forget about the endangered grass that might just decide to migrate across the highway to the speedway side of the road because of all the hullabaloo that YOU offroaders have caused. Good luck to you fifty people that are taking on the BLM, the Clark County Planning Department and the City of North Las Vegas! RIP BJS wrote on January 31, 2008 02:20 PM: Ok, let me see if I understand this. BLM, who has been given the rights to this (public) land now says that the county can better care for the dunes but NLV wants to annex it for development. Am I correct so far? But didn't BLM state that there are endangered species within this environment? OK,let's assume there are. If so, why haven't the dunes been restricted already? And why isn't mention made of this in the county proposal. Sounds very fishy to me. It sounds like a planned "taking", much like the taking of open range lands to garner revenue for a governmental entity. Folks, look out... TimeRanger wrote on January 31, 2008 11:31 AM: Restrict this land...The same way that a "cemetary only" clause magically disappeared from the deed that went to one of the "Good Ol' Boys? BC wrote on January 31, 2008 11:20 AM: Yes, yes, tight restrictions, like, oh, let's say, pharmacies in neighborhoods, perhaps? Casinos in neighborhoods, as well? You know the kind of tight restrictions that can be bought by the highest bidder? REZONING??? concerned wrote on January 31, 2008 09:32 AM: It will become part of the shrinking amount of off-road riding areas for the many enthusiasts who enjoy them. There is too much money to be had by developers. They don't care if thousands of people have invested alot of their hard earned money to have fun and spend time with their families while using these areas. Lets see wrote on January 31, 2008 07:48 AM: Lets see which one of the county good ole boys developer friends end up with the land.