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A committee of adjustment panel on Wednesday approved Hard Rock Casino Ottawa’s request to add 14 table games to the maximum number allowed at the Albion Road facility.
The panel took about an hour to make a decision after hearing arguments from Hard Rock’s consultants and a few public delegates.
Hard Rock can now have 35 tables games, such as roulette and blackjack, in its casino operation at the former Rideau Carleton Raceway, in addition to the 1,250 slot machines.
City council made a decision in 2011 to set the maximum limit of table games at 21. That was before the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. went looking for a new operator for its gambling facility at the horse track, leading to a contract awarded earlier this year to Hard Rock Casino Ottawa.
Murray Chown, one of the company’s planning consultants, told the panel that the addition of 14 table games wouldn’t alter the facility since there would be no physical changes.
Chown said it’s effectively an “invisible variance.”
Paul Norris of the Hunt Club Park Community Association said Hard Rock’s application to add table games isn’t “minor” in nature and it shouldn’t be heard by the committee of adjustment.
“It would set a dangerous precedent,” Norris said. “What’s next for a minor variance?”
The city’s planning department is satisfied that Hard Rock’s application could be heard by the committee of adjustment, which is tasked with considering minor planning applications.
Citizens, not city council members, sit on the committee of adjustment panels.
Pam Morse of the Emerald Woods Residents Association highlighted the 100 table games that would be in Ottawa-Gatineau if the Lac Leamy Casino’s tables were also considered. Ottawa doesn’t have “zealous gamblers,” Morse said.
Morse is also concerned about an increase in traffic on Albion Road, which she said can’t handle more vehicles.
On the other hand, Harley Bloom, general manager of the Capital Fair, questioned how 14 more table games would significantly impact the traffic. The fair this year drew thousands of people to the horse track facility and Bloom said he didn’t receive one complaint about traffic.
“We’re excited for the opportunity for the expansion,” Bloom said.
“Opportunities in the south end are going to explode.”
There was a fourth delegate signed up, David Eggett of the Osgoode Care Centre, but since he planned to talk about socio-economic issues about expanded gaming, he decided not to address the committee.
At the beginning of the hearing, the committee chair said only matters specific to planning policy could be brought up.
Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans listened to the discussion from the gallery. Deans wanted to address the committee, but the city’s legal department told her she shouldn’t. Council appoints committee of adjustment members, so there’s a perceived conflict with a council member appearing as a delegate.
Deans said Hard Rock is showing “bad faith” by circumventing the council approval process and applying through the quasi-judicial committee of adjustment.
She was one of six councillors who wrote to Hard Rock asking that the company withdraw its planning application.
As we await the Committee of Adjustment decision on the application to increase gambling in #ottcity, here is a copy of the letter we sent the applicant, Hard Rock, earlier this morning. cc @dianedeans@cmckenney@JLeiper@MathieuFleury@chernushenko#ottpoli#ottnewspic.twitter.com/wLajmpTh4s
— Tobi Nussbaum (@tobi_nussbaum) November 15, 2017
Committee of adjustment decisions don’t require a council vote but they can be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.
Hard Rock Casino Ottawa, which is a partnership between the international entertainment company and the Rideau Carleton Raceway, is planning a $320-million redevelopment of the complex.
jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling
查看原文...
The panel took about an hour to make a decision after hearing arguments from Hard Rock’s consultants and a few public delegates.
Hard Rock can now have 35 tables games, such as roulette and blackjack, in its casino operation at the former Rideau Carleton Raceway, in addition to the 1,250 slot machines.
City council made a decision in 2011 to set the maximum limit of table games at 21. That was before the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. went looking for a new operator for its gambling facility at the horse track, leading to a contract awarded earlier this year to Hard Rock Casino Ottawa.
Murray Chown, one of the company’s planning consultants, told the panel that the addition of 14 table games wouldn’t alter the facility since there would be no physical changes.
Chown said it’s effectively an “invisible variance.”
Paul Norris of the Hunt Club Park Community Association said Hard Rock’s application to add table games isn’t “minor” in nature and it shouldn’t be heard by the committee of adjustment.
“It would set a dangerous precedent,” Norris said. “What’s next for a minor variance?”
The city’s planning department is satisfied that Hard Rock’s application could be heard by the committee of adjustment, which is tasked with considering minor planning applications.
Citizens, not city council members, sit on the committee of adjustment panels.
Pam Morse of the Emerald Woods Residents Association highlighted the 100 table games that would be in Ottawa-Gatineau if the Lac Leamy Casino’s tables were also considered. Ottawa doesn’t have “zealous gamblers,” Morse said.
Morse is also concerned about an increase in traffic on Albion Road, which she said can’t handle more vehicles.
On the other hand, Harley Bloom, general manager of the Capital Fair, questioned how 14 more table games would significantly impact the traffic. The fair this year drew thousands of people to the horse track facility and Bloom said he didn’t receive one complaint about traffic.
“We’re excited for the opportunity for the expansion,” Bloom said.
“Opportunities in the south end are going to explode.”
There was a fourth delegate signed up, David Eggett of the Osgoode Care Centre, but since he planned to talk about socio-economic issues about expanded gaming, he decided not to address the committee.
At the beginning of the hearing, the committee chair said only matters specific to planning policy could be brought up.
Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans listened to the discussion from the gallery. Deans wanted to address the committee, but the city’s legal department told her she shouldn’t. Council appoints committee of adjustment members, so there’s a perceived conflict with a council member appearing as a delegate.
Deans said Hard Rock is showing “bad faith” by circumventing the council approval process and applying through the quasi-judicial committee of adjustment.
She was one of six councillors who wrote to Hard Rock asking that the company withdraw its planning application.
As we await the Committee of Adjustment decision on the application to increase gambling in #ottcity, here is a copy of the letter we sent the applicant, Hard Rock, earlier this morning. cc @dianedeans@cmckenney@JLeiper@MathieuFleury@chernushenko#ottpoli#ottnewspic.twitter.com/wLajmpTh4s
— Tobi Nussbaum (@tobi_nussbaum) November 15, 2017
Committee of adjustment decisions don’t require a council vote but they can be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.
Hard Rock Casino Ottawa, which is a partnership between the international entertainment company and the Rideau Carleton Raceway, is planning a $320-million redevelopment of the complex.
jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling
查看原文...
