Concerns over expansion aired

City officials want more involvements in racino proposal

SARATOGA SPRINGS >> Despite a specially assigned meeting scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the proposed Saratoga Casino & Raceway expansion, the City Council spent much of Tuesday’s meeting discussing the city’s role in the matter, or lack thereof.

Mayor Joanne Yepsen called a special meeting Wednesday to specifically discuss the city’s jurisdiction in the racino’s proposed $30 million expansion.

At Tuesday’s regular city council meeting, she said she continues to check on the city’s status with the state Gaming Commission after the city’s designation was changed from involved agency to an interested agency in April.

Public Works Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco suggested the city should fight to be a lead agency using non-legal approaches, because in accordance with VLT legislation, the city cannot fight to become a lead agency. He said they should file a con- sent form to be the lead agency, and let the DEC make the decision.

Many other commissioners agreed, Scirocco, Accounts Commission John Franck and Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathesien all expressed concern regarding the city’s status as lead agency as well as concerns with the racino’s inconsistency

with the city’s comprehensive plan and whether the additional proposed event center would compete with the City Center.

The legalities of the position were explained further by City Attorney Sarah Burger, who said seeking status as a lead agency would require potentially expensive legal action by the city. She also said as an involved agency, the city would have jurisdiction to fund, approve or undertake action and as an interested agency, they would have the same ability to participate as a member of the public. Racino representatives have voluntarily presented concept plans to the City Council and Planning Board and more detailed site plans are expected to be completed within a week.

The Saratoga Casino & Raceway is not necessarily required to present anything to the city because it is exempt from local land-use laws by being a state agency and racino officials have said at many public meetings that they hear public comments out of courtesy.

Saratoga Casino & Raceway does not yet have a lead agency to oversee the SEQRA process for the expansion, although it’s expected the New York State Gaming Commission will take that role.

Yepsen disagreed with Scirocco, stating that the VLT law is not going to change and efforts can be focused elsewhere and a lawsuit could be detrimental.

“If harness racing goes, thoroughbred racing would be next,” she said. Yepsen said the city will submit a response letter to the gaming commission after hearing further comments at the special meeting, and it will be within the 30-day window allowed by SEQRA.

Many public comments were also heard on the racino, though limited, due to Wednesday’s special meeting.