Expansion project begins

Wednesday, July 17, 2002 | 11:15 a.m.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Leaders of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians broke ground for a $157 million expansion of its casino to add a 105-room hotel, convention hall and health center.

The new facility is intended to generate more income for the Chumash and provide visitors with more amenities.

Tribal leaders addressed complaints about the project by scaling it back from five stories to four and building fewer rooms.

For months the project has been opposed by many community members concerned about traffic at the casino entrance on Highway 246 and the lack of water and sewer capability for a larger facility.

"It has been the expressed intent of the tribe to develop the proposed project in an aesthetically pleasing manner, generally in keeping with the intent of county policies designated to protect the scenic beauty of the Santa Ynez Valley while encouraging economic development," a final environmental report states.

The new facility should attract about 4,000 patrons daily and employ nearly 300 more people, tribe Chairman Vincent Armenta said.

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