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[溫哥華本地新聞] Foes of south Surrey casino organize for public hearing
Foes of south Surrey casino organize for public hearing
Opponents hope to put on big show for city council
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Foes+south+Surrey+casino+organize+public+hearing/7813727/story.html#ixzz2HxeHjQi9
An overwhelming show of opposition is expected at Surrey City Hall Monday night in a last-ditch attempt to kill a $100-million resort-style gambling facility in south Surrey.
Resident Michael Pohlmann, who lives three blocks from the proposed site, said he expects more than 1,000 people to pack the city hall chambers and have their say before council votes on the proposal by Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Ltds. and the B.C. Lottery Corp.
The project requires city council approval before a gaming license can be issued.
“There’s no way we are going to give up,” Pohlmann said. “Who knows how long this is going to take but we’re ready for a fight.”
Residents argue the project, set for 25 acres on 168th Street and 10th Avenue, is not suitable for their area, and will create traffic snarls, increase crime and affect property values.
The proposed resort includes a 60,000-square-foot gambling floor, 200-room four-star hotel and 27,000-square-foot convention and entertainment centre with restaurants and lounges, as well as parking for 1,200 vehicles.
Gateway wants to move the gaming licence it has for the Newton Bingo Country casino on King George Boulevard to the new site.
If council approves the project, Surrey stands to gain an estimated $3 million a year in revenue.
Mayor Dianne Watts and most of her councillors, except Coun. Marvin Hunt who is opposed to the casino, won’t say how they plan to vote Monday.
This is the second time a casino resort been pitched for that corner, which has been the focus of land developers over the past decade.
Land records show the parcel, at 168th Street and 10th Avenue was sold in 2000 for $35,500 before being bought again in September 2006 for $3.3 million.
Another parcel, at 11th Avenue and 168th Street, was also bought for $3.3 million.
Property title records show the parcels, along with two others in the area, are owned by numbered company 0854559 BC, which is associated with developer Bob Cheema, who applied in 2010 to develop a $180-million casino project on that same site. That numbered company had amalgamated with another company, 0854559 BC, and changed its mailing address to that of Gateway Casinos on Jan. 19, 2012 — a couple of months after the 2011 municipal election, in which Watts’ Surrey First Team swept all nine seats.
Both Cheema, through his company Bill’s Developments and Gateway Casinos donated to Surrey First Team in 2011, donating $8,000 and $16,500 respectively, according to financial disclosure records.
A B.C. Companies search lists Cheema as a director of the numbered company, which was incorporated on June 16, 2009. But Cheema insists he is not involved in the casino proposal. He declined to comment further, citing privacy issues.
“I’m not associated in it,” Cheema said. “I’ve got nothing involved in it.”
Watts said she has no idea what role Cheema has in the casino project, but maintains the $24,500 in donations from his company and Gateway are irrelevant.
“We have donations from a variety of people ... individuals, businesses, all sorts of things,” Watts said. “We’ve supported some projects and not supported others. There’s no expectation that it’s going to advantage them one way or another.”
She declined to comment on the proposal saying the public hearing will provide a “more balanced” view of how the community feels. Council may decide to postpone the vote depending on how the hearing goes, she said.
Gateway is proposing to use its gaming licence — approved for Newton — for the new facility.
Coun. Barinder Rasode said the biggest issue for her is that Gateway doesn’t use its gaming licence to put slot machines in Newton.
She noted the proposed site is zoned light industrial and does not have the same residential density.
But Pohlmann argues the proposal would be next to a thoroughbred horse farm and close to homes with young families. A casino, he said, would be better suited to 168th Street near 32 Avenue.
“They want it visible from the highway so it’s visible for everyone coming from the States,” he said. “People here are very, very upset.”
Former mayor Bob Bose said council should hold a separate public hearing on the proposal.
Coun. Bruce Hayne said as a businessman, he said he can see the positives and economic benefits, but he hasn’t made up his mind.
Coun. Judy Villeneuve said she wants to make sure the proponents follow through with the resort plan, noting the city has had challenges with other proposals.
Burnaby-based Gateway is one of the largest casino operational service providers in B.C. and Alberta with nine casinos, two community gaming centres and a bingo hall. Last May, the company filed a preliminary prospectus with the securities regulatory for a proposed initial public offering of common shares by Gateway and certain selling shareholders. The IPO has since been postponed. |
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發表於 2013-1-14 06:42
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