City betting on different kind of parking plan

North Las Vegas officials have come up with a unique alternative to building parking for a new city hall.

The new 211,077-square-foot complex, which could begin construction late next year, is required by city ordinance to have 606 parking spaces, according to plans submitted by the city’s public works department.

That’s quite a tight fit on the 12 acres along North Las Vegas Boulevard that city officials have to work with.

The solution? Share parking with its new neighbor — the Silver Nugget Casino.

The plan is to have city staff use 600 of the casino’s parking spaces during business hours Monday through Thursday, with the Silver Nugget having claim at night and on weekends.

Potential problems could arise during City Council or Planning Commission meetings, which start at 6 p.m., that have been known to draw hundreds of citizens for contentious issues.

The use of the spaces was part of the purchase agreement with the Silver Nugget when the city paid $15.8 million for the land, which includes the casino’s former RV park.

The plan goes before city officials in January and February for final approval.