14 June 2 - 15, 2007
Community
www.SanTanSun.com
Casino from Page 1
visit the casino daily, according to Dale Guterson,
executive director of the Casino Expansion Owners
Team (CEOT). The bulk of the traffi c would impact
Gilbert Road, while many other casino visitors would
utilize Arizona Avenue and Hunt Highway.
With public comments and traffi c study in hand, the
Planning and Zoning Commission will formulate their
recommendation and share it with the Tribal Council’s
Natural Resources committee, says Alia Maisonet,
public information offi ce for the tribe. The committee
will then forward the recommendation to the full
council for a fi nal decision on the casino’s location.
Following the deadline for public comment, the
process should take between two weeks and a month,
according to Guterson.
Although the zoning issue has been a hot topic
among community members, he believes it won’t
necessarily be a legal barrier.
“The land isn’t zoned in the truest sense of the word.
The community has an interim zoning ordinance which
applies in one portion of the reservation. It doesn’t
apply here, ” he says. “But the planning commission
follows the land classifi cation. Right now the land is
classifi ed agricultural. The casino would be classifi ed
commercial.”
e-group,
casinohunthwy@aol.com, to share informa- until the council makes its fi nal decision in the next
Guterson says because the classifi cation process
tion and ideas about the possible casino development several weeks. CEOT has already selected an architect
is not law, changing the land’s classifi cation to
across Hunt Highway from her neighborhood. and a contractor and the entire team is ready to
commercial would not require a formal process or
“Our group is not anti-casino. Some list members get started, whether at the current location or an
public hearings.
want the casino, ” Walters says. “Our group is pro- alternate.
“The deciding body is the (tribal) council and they
information. We’re sharing info, addresses, letter “If an alternate site is recommended by Gila River
will make the ultimate call, ” he says.
writing campaigns.” Tribal Council, CEOT will simply begin the process
Recent efforts by the group include letter campaigns of building the Lone Butte Casino at one of their
Neighbors unite to stay informed
to the planning and zoning commission and to GRIC in identifi ed alternate sites, ” says Maisonet.
Concerned Southern Chandler residents have been
support of Arthur Felder, the tribe’s interim economic
working to make their opinions heard throughout the
development director, who Walters claims “is trying
Natalie Morris is a freelance writer and lives with her husband
process, both during the public hearing and following
to make the elders re-examine this line of economic
and their two sons in Cooper Commons. She can be reached at
Natalie@SanTanSun.com.
it.
development.”
Sun River resident Lorraine Walters started an
According to Guterson, the process is “dormant”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72