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Casino developers were in shock Tuesday morning after the Sumner County Commissioners denied approval of two plats of land needed to build a casino near Exit 33.
The two plats of land would be about 84 acres located at the northeast corner of Broadway and 140th Ave. Developers requested the two plats be converted to C-4, commercial highway district zoning.
Director of Planning and Zoning Jon Bristor said developers needed the 80 acres for additional drainage and traffic issues.
After going through their presentation again to the County Commissioners, the floor was opened up for public comment. All who spoke were against the approval of the plats.
Paul Sutherland of Peck said the water drainage was a huge issue in the area and that other engineers should be hired by the county to look into the issue.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or an engineer to know that this will allow additional water to flow,” Sutherland said.
Traffic issues would not only cause headaches, but deaths, he added.
“The traffic proposal is a killer, literally. The ramp to and from the turnpike will save many lives,” he said.
Jacque Farnsworth of Mulvane said flooding to the area wouldn’t just be a headache for the residents, but for the county as well.
“If you are going to turn your back on what this is going to do towards us, you are going to be looking at — and I’m not saying if, I’m saying when — the flooding occurs in those neighborhoods, a class action lawsuit for the damages this is going to create,” she said.
First to make a comment on the plats was Commissioner Eldon Gracy who was against the approval.
“Mr. Lang mentioned Patton. I was with Patton and he made some mistakes. He bulled into places that he shouldn’t have ... it’s been a tough road to be involved in this ... if it’s for the people and by the people, I have to uphold what the planning commission recommended,” Gracy said.
Commissioner Jim Newell mirrored Gracy’s comments, saying he had to think of the better of the County.
“I always felt that this is why I’m here is for the people. When something like this comes up you aren’t going to make everyone happy and I know that. But my concern and my concern will always be...the county as a whole. Not just my district, the whole county and I’m afraid I’m going to have to disagree with Mr. Gracy,” Newell said.
He said the engineers involved — including Lakes’ hired engineers and those from the county — knew best what would work for the site and approved the plans.
Remaining commissioner Garey Martin made no public comment.
After Newell made a motion to approve the plats and no votes were made, Martin made a second motion to deny the plats, which Gracy seconded. A majority vote of 2 to 1 was needed for the motion.
Vice President of Development for Lakes Entertainment, Dick Bienapfl was stumped as to what the developers’ next move would be.
“I have no idea. I don’t have a clue. We’ll have to figure out what happens,” Bienapfl said. “I think we are a little bit surprised by the results so we haven’t made any plans for that eventuality yet so we’ll just have to go back and discuss it amongst our group.”
The denial of the plats by the commissioners will change the negotiations in Topeka, the vice president said.
“I would imagine it will,” Bienapfl said. “This is the site that the state’s approved so without the plat approval, I don’t know what happens.”
Bristor said any person aggrieved by the decision made by the Commissioners had 30 days to make an action in district court as to the reasonableness of the commissioners’ decision.
Bienapfl said he didn’t know what he and the other developers would do in regards to the action.
For the latest on the Sumner County casino, check back with www.wellingtondailynews.com.
Casino developers were in shock Tuesday morning after the Sumner County Commissioners denied approval of two plats of land needed to build a casino near Exit 33.
The two plats of land would be about 84 acres located at the northeast corner of Broadway and 140th Ave. Developers requested the two plats be converted to C-4, commercial highway district zoning.
Director of Planning and Zoning Jon Bristor said developers needed the 80 acres for additional drainage and traffic issues.
After going through their presentation again to the County Commissioners, the floor was opened up for public comment. All who spoke were against the approval of the plats.
Paul Sutherland of Peck said the water drainage was a huge issue in the area and that other engineers should be hired by the county to look into the issue.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or an engineer to know that this will allow additional water to flow,” Sutherland said.
Traffic issues would not only cause headaches, but deaths, he added.
“The traffic proposal is a killer, literally. The ramp to and from the turnpike will save many lives,” he said.
Jacque Farnsworth of Mulvane said flooding to the area wouldn’t just be a headache for the residents, but for the county as well.
“If you are going to turn your back on what this is going to do towards us, you are going to be looking at — and I’m not saying if, I’m saying when — the flooding occurs in those neighborhoods, a class action lawsuit for the damages this is going to create,” she said.
First to make a comment on the plats was Commissioner Eldon Gracy who was against the approval.
“Mr. Lang mentioned Patton. I was with Patton and he made some mistakes. He bulled into places that he shouldn’t have ... it’s been a tough road to be involved in this ... if it’s for the people and by the people, I have to uphold what the planning commission recommended,” Gracy said.
Commissioner Jim Newell mirrored Gracy’s comments, saying he had to think of the better of the County.
“I always felt that this is why I’m here is for the people. When something like this comes up you aren’t going to make everyone happy and I know that. But my concern and my concern will always be...the county as a whole. Not just my district, the whole county and I’m afraid I’m going to have to disagree with Mr. Gracy,” Newell said.
He said the engineers involved — including Lakes’ hired engineers and those from the county — knew best what would work for the site and approved the plans.
Remaining commissioner Garey Martin made no public comment.
After Newell made a motion to approve the plats and no votes were made, Martin made a second motion to deny the plats, which Gracy seconded. A majority vote of 2 to 1 was needed for the motion.
Vice President of Development for Lakes Entertainment, Dick Bienapfl was stumped as to what the developers’ next move would be.
“I have no idea. I don’t have a clue. We’ll have to figure out what happens,” Bienapfl said. “I think we are a little bit surprised by the results so we haven’t made any plans for that eventuality yet so we’ll just have to go back and discuss it amongst our group.”
The denial of the plats by the commissioners will change the negotiations in Topeka, the vice president said.
“I would imagine it will,” Bienapfl said. “This is the site that the state’s approved so without the plat approval, I don’t know what happens.”
Bristor said any person aggrieved by the decision made by the Commissioners had 30 days to make an action in district court as to the reasonableness of the commissioners’ decision.
Bienapfl said he didn’t know what he and the other developers would do in regards to the action.
For the latest on the Sumner County casino, check back with www.wellingtondailynews.com.
