After the Bonner Springs City Council endorsed zoning changes for Golden Gaming at its meeting on Monday, the future of Wyandotte County’s casino market is out of Wyandotte County’s hands.
With the council’s approval, Golden Gaming, which is located in Bonner and Edwardsville will be considered alongside three Kansas City, Kan., proposals - Legends Sun, Hard Rock at the Kansas Speedway, and Pinnacle Entertainment by the Kansas Lottery Commission sometime next year. Only one of the four will receive approval to build the county’s sole destination casino.
Bonner council members unanimously approved the zoning changes after the city’s planning commission recommended approval Monday evening. The action ended Wyandotte County’s involvement in the casino selection process.
Blake Sartini, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Golden Gaming, said the proposal’s location sets it apart from the others.
“We selected this 200-acre site immediately adjacent to I-70 and the 110th Street interchange for its accessibility and the potential for maximum guest impressions,” he said.
Following the endorsement, Golden Gaming also announced a second phase of the project. The $252 million second phase would feature retail shops, restaurants and a bowling center with 60 lanes, along with a residential component to go along with the proposal’s golf course. The initial proposal is for $662 million, and will feature a 132,000 square-foot gaming floor, 2,500 slots, 80 table games and an 18-table poker room, a four-star, 300-room hotel with convention center, luxury spa, fitness center and a championship golf course designed by Kansas City golfing legend Tom Watson.
Watson released a statement Tuesday showing his support for Bonner Springs' endorsement.
“This approval is great news and puts us one step closer to designing one of my championship level, signature golf courses on this particularly beautiful and well-suited location in Wyandotte County,” Watson said.
Watson has designed two courses in the Kansas City area and others around the world.
The proposal is the only one spanning multiple cities; because of that, approval from both Edwardsville and Bonner Springs was necessary. The casino would be located in Edwardsville, but about 80 percent of the overall proposal would be within Bonner Springs’ boundaries.
Golden Gaming estimates 3.9 million annual visitors to the casino and resort, with 2.2 million visiting from outside Kansas City. The company also estimates the development would bring $6 million annually to Wyandotte County and an additional $2.2 million to Bonner Springs and Edwardsville, with gaming revenues for Kansas estimated at about $66.5 million. About 11,000 construction jobs and 8,000 operational jobs would be created if the proposal is selected by the state.
Don Slone, city planner for Bonner Springs, said although the city will not make the final decision on Golden Gaming, it will become involved again if the proposal is selected by the state.
“We did not evaluate extensive traffic issues,” he said. “If they are successful at the state, they’ll come back here. We’ve already discussed some locations of the roundabouts.” |
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