Casino news source: Miami Herald - http://www.miamiherald.com
Seminoles renovate casino, plan major development
THE SEMINOLE TRIBE OPENS A FANCIER VERSION OF ITS COCONUT CREEK CASINO ON TUESDAY AS IT CONTINUES TO BATTLE THE COUNTY, CITY AND ITS POMPANO BEACH RIVAL
BY ROBERTO SANTIAGO
rsantiago@MiamiHerald.com
As the Seminole Tribe prepares to debut a $32 million renovation of its Coconut Creek casino on Tuesday, tribal leaders have an even more lucrative ace in the hole to further expand its South Florida gambling empire.
For years, the tribe has held on to a 44-acre property surrounding its casino, in hopes of developing it into the state's largest hotel-casino complex -- complete with a 24-story, 1,500-room hotel; a nine-story parking garage; a 2,500-seat concert hall; and 150,000 square feet of restaurants, shops and office space.
The Seminoles' plans, however, have been mired in controversy: the city of Coconut Creek is against the expansion, even though city leaders acknowledge that it would be an economic boon as a centerpiece for its downtown development plans.
The county also opposes it, pointing out that it would fail to gain any tax revenue from the development. And three citizens have filed a lawsuit against it.
At issue is the Seminoles' effort to have the 44 acres declared sovereign land, which would place the property in a trust by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Broward County and Coconut Creek officials are against the move, which they say would financially benefit the Seminoles at the expense of the city and county.
If the land becomes sovereign Indian territory, Broward and Coconut Creek officials would have no say in the Seminoles' business expansion, or how that expansion impacts the quality of life in Coconut Creek.
It also wouldn't collect an estimated $10 million in projected annual tax revenue, according to a formal objection filed Wednesday by the county with the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Meanwhile, Coconut Creek, in its formal objection, pointed out it would be faced with picking up the costs of increased traffic, crime, noise, and pollution that an additional 5,000 employees and up to 20,000 daily visitors would bring to the expanded casino, located north of Sample Road and East of U.S. 441.
In documents filed by Coconut Creek City Manager John Kelly on Wednesday, the city estimates its annual costs for additional police to patrol the facility at $5.1 million and additional firefighter/paramedics to cost $1.8 million.
''We are opposing it. We have no choice,'' said Kelly, who said he is hopeful that they can iron out their differences before the Bureau of Indian Affairs renders a decision.
Before the sovereign issue came into play, the city of Coconut Creek had been supportive of the Seminoles' expansion.
``We have had a great relationship with the tribe in our negotiations, but this business with the Bureau of Indian Affairs has thrown a wrench into the works.''
FEDERAL DECISION
But a federal decision will not be coming anytime soon, according to Bureau of Indian Affairs spokeswoman Nedra Darling.
''The application is in its initial stages -- not even the environmental impact has been looked into,'' said Darling. ``It won't be resolved for a while.''
In 1999, a year prior to the Coconut Creek casino opening, the city and the Seminoles negotiated a deal -- approved through the Bureau of Indian Affairs -- that would provide municipal services to the current five-acre casino site, at a cost of $1 million per year.
It would increase by $100,000 each year until the amount reached $1.5 million.
That limit was reached this year -- $1,587,000. In 2008, it will increase in accordance with changes in inflation and fuel prices.
The Seminoles agreed to waive sovereign immunity when it closed that deal -- and said it would notify the city if it planned to expand its gaming operations.
But last year, when the Seminoles decided to develop its 44 acres, it didn't notify the city.
The Seminoles are claiming that because the expansion doesn't include the casino or gambling, but developing an entertainment complex, it should not be held to its original agreements with the city.
But county and city officials do not see it that way.
According to gaming experts, hotels and entertainment complexes tied to casinos not only provide more revenue to casino owners, but are responsible for luring people who otherwise would not gamble to the gaming floor.
CONTINUE TO TALK
Gary Bitner, spokesman for the Seminole Tribe, said that despite the move to have the 44 acres declared sovereign, the Seminoles and Coconut Creek officials will continue to negotiate.
Having the lands declared sovereign is not just good for the Seminoles, he said, but good for Broward County and Coconut Creek.
''[It] will make the property surrounding the casino complex more valuable . . . will bring in more investors, provide more jobs -- plus the tribe will be buying more goods and services from businesses and organizations in Coconut Creek,'' said Bitner.
But Bitner did say that the Seminoles would be open to discussing an expansion of the municipal services agreement it has with the city as it builds on its 44 acres.
In the meantime, Coconut Creek also faces a lawsuit from three city residents who work for the rival Isle Casino & Racing at Pompano Park, the Pompano Beach harness track that expects to debut 1,500 slot machines sometime this month after it passes state inspection.
The residents, represented by Isle Casino lobbyist Alan Koslow of the law firm Becker & Poliakoff, claim the city, among other things, gave the Seminoles approval to build on the 44 acres without requiring a regional impact assessment on ``such a massive facility.''
Koslow insists the lawsuit isn't a thinly veiled effort by Isle Casino to hinder its closest competitor.
`UP IN ARMS'
''I think that people can say that, but the truth is that there are many people in Coconut Creek that are up in arms that a facility is being built that can negatively impact their quality of life,'' Koslow said.
``Pompano is certainly a competitor, but its construction has met every state, county, and city requirement. [Neither] the Seminoles, nor the city of Coconut Creek, are above the law. The wheels of government are supposed to work slow for a reason, and that is to protect the public and its citizens.'' |
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