Hard Rock bids for more tables

Councillor slams ‘sneaky’ application to avoid scrutiny

The Hard Rock Casino Ottawa is making its play to expand gambling, choosing to avoid the political games at city hall.

Hard Rock, which has partnered with the Rideau Carleton Raceway to build a new entertainment facility at the horse track, is asking for permission to add 14 more table games.

The zoning for the land at 4837 Albion Rd. only allows for a maximum of 21 table games, which was set by city council in 2011.

Hard Rock believes increasing the number of table games to 35 is considered a minor variance to the land-use rules, so it has filed its application with the committee of adjustment, which has 15 members of the public sitting on three panels.

Historically, matters involving gambling and Ottawa’s only casino have gone through the city council approval process.

Coun. Diane Deans, who has opposed gambling expansion, called the Hard Rock’s committee of adjustment application a “backdoor, sneaky manoeuvre” that sidesteps political scrutiny.

“I think it gets them off on a bad foot with this community and this council,” Deans said, adding that “it leaves a bad taste the mouths of decision-makers at city hall.”

The city has expected that the new operator of the gambling operation at the horse track would address problem gambling concerns that could come with expanded gaming options.

Council could police that requirement if the application was on its agenda, but committee of adjustment decisions don’t require ratification by council.

SEPARATE TRIBUNAL

The committee of adjustment is a separate tribunal, tasked with approving minor variance applications only if the zoning bylaw for a property wouldn’t be drastically altered.

The committee invites the public to make deputations on applications during open meetings.

Hard Rock’s application is scheduled to be heard Nov. 15 at Ben Franklin Place.

The committee of adjustment could refuse to hear the application if it believes the request isn’t calling for a “minor” variance.

If that happens, Hard Rock could be forced to bring its application to planning committee and council.

On the other hand, it was always expected that Hard Rock would ask for more gambling capacity when the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation last May approved Hard Rock as the operator of government-sanctioned gaming in Ottawa.

Hard Rock and the raceway are working on a $320-million redevelopment of the facility.

The property is also zoned to allow a maximum of 1,250 slot machines.

City hall receives a cut of gambling revenue since Ottawa has agreed to be a host city for gaming.