Planned casino gets mixed news

Eric Leake

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2004 | 11:07 a.m.

The Spring Valley Town Advisory Board recommended denial of the design review extension for the proposed Durango Station casino Tuesday night.

But the board, with four members present, stalemated on the casino's zoning extension while recommending approval to extend its use permit.

The decisions both enthused and disappointed a crowd of about 100 people at the West Flamingo Senior Center.

"They were sort of schizophrenic," Carolyn Edwards, with Southwest Residents for Schools and Neighborhoods First, said of the decisions.

"Part of the problem, I think, is it was not clear to the town board what they were voting on," she said, adding that she would prefer action wait until plans are more clear.

At issue are extensions for the entitlements -- part of the Rhodes Ranch master plan and approved for a casino as far back as 1997 -- for up to 1,000 hotel rooms, 195,000 square feet of casino floor, and a tower as tall as 216 feet at the site.

"Because this issue has such gravity with so many people, I'd certainly like to get more history," said advisory board member Lee Plotkin, suggesting the board wait for more information.

Station Casinos attorney Matthew Heinhold asked for a recommendation that night.

"Be careful of what you ask for," Plotkin said, before the board recommended denial.

The board voted only on recommendations. The items are scheduled to appear before the County Commission Dec. 8.

Southwest residents were concerned that Durango Station, sited for Interstate 215 west of Durango Drive and close to Wayne Tanaka Elementary School, would bring traffic and the hazards that accompany a large casino.

"I understand that you have a business to run, but I have a family to grow," said Leo Cuellar, who lives within a mile of the casino site.

Cuellar has two children, ages 5 and 3.

"We have to give these children every opportunity we can to make sure they grow up in a safe environment, that we protect them," he said.

Heinhold said Station Casinos is only trying to extend its entitlements as it begins to make plans for the site. He said Station Casinos does not yet know what will be built or when.

"We don't know what to say when people say to scale down your plans. We don't have any plans," Heinhold said.

He invited residents to meet him regarding plans for the site and said it was frustrating to only hear from upset residents at meetings.

"We're begging them to be part of the process," Heinhold said. "There's a lot that can be done to mitigate those concerns."

The crowd was packed with people who applauded one another's denunciations of the project.

When the board asked if anybody supported the casino project, only J.R. Williams, standing against the back wall, raised his hand.

Williams said he was at the meeting for another item but lives in Green Valley next to Green Valley Ranch Station.

"Their property at Green Valley Ranch is one of the nicest developments in the area," he said.

He said Station Casinos worked well with neighbors when developing the property and that given the choice between Green Valley Ranch or more homes, he'd take the hotel.