Cities can't enforce zoning, planning rules on casinos

[Freddie Stubbs]

Sunday, August 01, 2004

By Timothy McNulty, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A little-noticed provision in the state's new slot machines bill prevents cities that host casinos from enforcing their own, local guidelines on traffic control, building design and other traditional zoning and planning matters.

The main reason for the zoning prohibition is money.

The purpose of the slots bill is to make as much dough as quickly as possible for both state and local government coffers, said Gary Tuma, spokesman for Sen. Vincent Fumo, D-Philadelphia, a key slots supporter. Haggling over zoning and planning requirements takes time and could put a speed bump in the way of collecting gambling revenues.

City officials can comment on zoning matters before the seven-member state gaming commission approves a casino site, but after that approval, the casino "shall not be prohibited or otherwise regulated" by any local zoning ordinances according to the new law.

more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04214/354990.stm

[zbdent]

1. I just hope that the PA casinos don't come with the

non-English speaking "magazine distributors" that seem to occur on every corner of the street in Las Vegas.

The slots (and hopefully other table games) sound like a good way to drop off my mother-in-law while heading off to meet my mother.