Planning commission denies Blessed Day Academy waiver to skip traffic study and school flashers

The Clark County Planning Commission on Aug. 8 denied WC26-4059, a waiver sought by Blessed Day Academy that would have removed the requirement for an updated traffic study and the installation of school-zone/pedestrian flashers on Desert Inn Road.

"The prior traffic analysis remains valid and an updated traffic study is not required solely for this application," said Lillian Aguirre, identified in the record as the academy's founder and administrator, during her presentation to the commission. Aguirre told commissioners the program would operate with supervised vehicle arrivals and dismissals and that many families are waiting for the service.

Commissioners and staff reviewed the site's history: a 2019 approval required a traffic study, a 2023 application increased enrollment and added conditions that included an updated study and flashers. Public Works and county planning staff told the commission that the 2023 application was conditioned on an updated traffic study and flashers because of the increased enrollment and driveway/site characteristics. Public works noted the flasher is a conventional flashing yellow school-zone device (not a marked crosswalk), and staff warned that a traffic study could recommend additional mitigations beyond flashers, such as signage and driveway improvements.

Several parents and supporters described the need for specialized programs and urged timely approvals. Tanya Tericiano, a parent, said the academy provides "a safe, nurturing, and inclusive educational environment" for children with special needs and asked the commission to consider families waiting for services. The applicant and supporters emphasized written correspondence from Clark County Public Works that they said confirmed the prior mitigation letter remains valid for unchanged enrollment.

Commissioners who voiced reservations emphasized public-safety obligations and deference to engineering analysis. Commissioner Stone pressed Public Works on the technical distinction between a warning flasher and a marked crosswalk; other commissioners stressed that past approvals included specific conditions the current applicant had not satisfied. Commissioner Waheeka moved to deny WC26-4059, citing child-safety concerns; the motion carried and the denial is final unless appealed to the Board of County Commissioners.

Next steps: the denial means the applicant would need to address staff's stated conditions (including an updated traffic study and required flasher installation) before operating under the proposed school-and-daycare use without the county's suggested mitigations.