A new casino complex is one step closer, after Penticton City Council voted to endorse Gateway Casino’s plan to move their casino operation to a new location in the city.
Council held a special meeting Monday evening to hear the results of public information sessions held since November, when Gateway announced plans to build a new complex — the Cascades Casino — near the South Okanagan Events Centre, next to the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce.
The new site at the SOEC is expected to create 150 new jobs and a $25 million investment in the local economy. The Cascades Casino Penticton will include a gaming floor, multiple full-service restaurants and live entertainment. It will also feature a rooftop patio for their signature restaurant, Match Eatery and Public House.
Colleen Pennington, the city’s economic development officer, was the first to speak, listing a number of concerns collected during the information sessions, of which parking and traffic congestion topped the list.
“In general, we will take a closer look at those traffic recommendations,” said Pennington, who said the casino operation, with a restaurant and entertainment, might encourage people to come either to events early or stay late, and thus spread out traffic.
“We have more than received adequate community input and 90 per cent of that community input is positive,” said Pennington, who recommended council send a letter to the B.C. Lottery Corporation supporting the relocation of the casino from its current location in the Penticton Lakeside Resort.
A few members of the public still had concerns, which they raised at the meeting, including the possibility of increased litter from people walking to and from off-site parking and the advisability of locating a casino in such close proximity to an elementary school.
Sandra Boel, whose child attends Queen’s Park Elementary, questioned the effect of increased traffic in the area.
“I know we have had a few near misses over the last year, from folks speeding through that street,” said Boel, who was also concerned about the social effects.
“Just overall, have we given a lot of thought to the social impact that a casino in that downtown area might have, either on the school or the residents’ property taxes,” said Boel.
Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said the city will be proactive in trying to deal with any traffic or parking problems, which he noted wouldn’t happen year-round.
“It is not like it is going to be 500 cars there all the time. On certain nights it is going to be busy and whatever we can do to mitigate that in terms of congestion,” said Jakubeit, noting that shuttles and offsite staff parking are being considered.
“When you have six to 10 major events a year, you have to weigh out the cost of acquiring or developing more parking,” said Jakubeit. “Does it really justify that expense versus inconvenience for six to 10 days a year?”
Jakubeit also suggested having tow trucks circuiting through the area on busy nights as a way to deal with problematic parkers.
With Coun. Tarik Sayeed absent, council voted 6-0 to approve the relocation. The BC Lottery Corporation is expected to take two weeks to come to a decision on final approval of the move.
