Casino news source: AZ Central - http://www.azcentral.com
Casino move near S. Chandler hits roadblock
By Betty Beard
The Arizona Republic
May. 10, 2007 11:21 AM
The Gila River Indian Community's plan to move a casino near southeast Chandler neighborhood may have run into a roadblock.
Many Gila River members appear to oppose the move, judging from a show of hands and comments from Gila River members at a public hearing Wednesday evening on the reservation.
Officials and residents said that moving the Lone Butte Casino to an area a quarter mile south of Hunt Highway and east of Gilbert Road could send more traffic through the reservation and displace about 400 acres that the community could use for agriculture. At least $30 million has been spent to prepare the land for farming.
The Gila River Indian Community Council has twice approved moving the Lone Butte casino from its current location south of southwest Chandler. But recently it was learned that the group proposing it, known as the Casino Owner's Expansion Team, had not gone through the proper process to change the zoning from agricultural to commercial.
So it is going through a public hearing process, including the meeting Wednesday before the Gila River planning and zoning commission. The issue will end up with the council again, but a date for that meeting has not been set.
"It is not a done deal, not until the council makes the final vote," said Darrell Gerlaugh, Gila River planning and zoning chairman.
Even the community's acting economic development director, Arthur Felder, proposed a moratorium on moving the casino because it would remove potential farm land.
"Let's look at this again. Let's take our time this time. Let's make sure we make the right decision," Felder said.
About 200 people, mostly Gila River and Chandler residents, packed the inside and outside of a meeting hall on the reservation. About two dozen people spoke. Most of them opposed moving the casino to the Gilbert Road location and urged it to be located elsewhere, such as farther south close to Interstate 10. Chandler residents said it would hurt their property values and would be too close to two elementary schools.
Patty Kocis, of Chandler said the hearing was an "eye opening experience" because she got to hear how reservation residents felt.
"We are not opposed to economic development. We are not opposed to offices or a golf course and things like that. We are opposed to an adult-themed facility," she said. "We are opposed to a casino and the main reason is that it is practically smack dab in our neighborhoods."
Tisha Miles, a Gila River resident, said she doesn't support or oppose the casino move but said the community's three casinos provide important jobs.
"Lots of our neighbors don't know this, especially if you're a single parent trying to support yourself instead of being on welfare," she said.
The community needs to move the Lone Butte Casino, the smallest of its three casinos, because it is moving its largest, Wild Horse Pass Casino, closer to the west side of Interstate 10. By law, casinos have to be spaced at least one and a half miles apart. The owners team looked at a half-dozen sites and concluded this was the best. They also plan a 250-room hotel and about 300,000 square feet of retail and four restaurants next to the casino.
Dale Gutenson, executive director of the casino team, said construction will start in June on the new Wild Horse Pass Casino. And the group wanted to start work in July on the new Lone Butte casino.
He estimates about 5,000 people a day would visit the casino and that almost 90 percent would approach it from Chandler. He said the casino would be buffered by a park.
The community is taking public comments through May 25. They can be faxed to (520) 562-4008 or mailed to Gila River Land Use Planning and Zoning, 192 S. Skill Road, Sacaton, AZ, 85247. |
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