Sage Collegiate’s priority of managing the student pickup queue appears to supersede the critical issue of school safety. Among the agreed-upon conditions, Sage Collegiate committed to on-campus student drop-off and pick-up. However, the proximity of the Las Vegas Fire Rescue Station 5 raises concerns about potential obstructions caused by parents’ vehicles during peak hours.
To navigate this challenge, Sage has devised an intricate vehicle staging system. Daily, during the school rush hours, parents form orderly lines of cars, patiently waiting for their turn to drive to the front of the school for student pick-up. This, however, raises concerns as the designated area for the queue also serves as a fire lane.
Currently, emergency vehicles have alternate access points to the school. However, the proposed expansion, illustrated in the attached diagram, may compromise this access. The diagram showcases the plans for the new 3-story building as part of Sage’s Phase 2 development. The light grey path, a fire code compliance requirement, loops around the campus, encircling the new building and existing structures.
Of particular concern to the neighborhood is the dual use of this loop, intended for both emergency service access and as a queue for student drop-off/pick-up. This raises questions about the accessibility of the buildings during emergencies.
The rushed and poorly planned building plans call for a pause and thorough reassessment. It’s crucial that we prioritize safety over expedient expansion decisions.
Neighbors have brought this to the attention of both the school and the city, but have yet to hear back from either on how this is going to work. It’s concerning because with only one entrance and exit in the lot, plus hundreds of cars encompassing the campus, this would lead to a very tragic outcome if, God forbid, an emergency occurred during pickup or drop-off hours.