FAA shortens public comment period on stadium height

The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday shortened by three weeks a public comment period for a study that will determine whether the Raiders’ proposed 225-foot-tall stadium would impact jetliner traffic at Mccarran International Airport.

Moving the commenting deadline toaug.30couldhelpkeepconstruction on schedule so the stadium can open in time for the 2020 NFL season, Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak said.

“The FAA routinely works with project sponsors throughout the U.S. and tries to understand their constraints and deadlines,” FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said in a statement.

“When possible, we can reduce the comment period, providing it doesn’t affect our ability to conduct a thorough review of the project,” Gregor said. “Because critical milestone dates for the Las Vegas stadium project would be affected by a 30-day-plus comment period, we were able to reduce the comment period without affecting the integrity of our airspace study.”

The Raiders could not be reached for comment.

A preliminary report issued by the FAA Wednesday found that flights at Mccarran International would not be impacted by the Raiders’ 65,000seat domed venue, located about 1½ miles away on Russell Road, just west of Interstate 15. Contractors began drilling on the site this week for soil sampling.

The FAA had given a Sept. 22 deadline to submit comments before it issues a final determination for the height obstruction study, which would have prevented the Clark County Commissioners from considering zoning permits until October at the earliest.

Moving the commenting deadline to Aug. 30 means that the county could consider a use permit, development waivers and design reviews for the stadium as soon as Sept. 6, assuming the FAA’S final report is completed.

The FAA has not said when the final report will be released.