Resorts to outline casino plans during hearings next week
Public input hearings that detail casino plans for two area resorts are just around the corner. Officials from Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington and Seven Springs in Somerset County will present their plans at hearings to be held next week. The Nemacolin hearing will be held Tuesday at the Uniontown Holiday Inn on Route 40. The Seven Springs hearing will be held Wednesday at the Quality Inn and Conference Center in Somerset. Both will start at 8:30 a.m.
Both resorts have applied for gaming licenses that would allow up to 500 slot machines. They are the only two applicants and there are only two such licenses available in the state.
Plans for the casinos at Nemacolin Woodlands and Seven Springs are posted on the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission’s Web site.
The Nemacolin Woodlands proposal, prepared by McMillin Engineering, indicated that a casino would have little impact on the area, and suggested a stoplight and left turn lanes on Route 40 to alleviate any traffic problems that may occur as a result of the increased number of cars.
The proposed place for the casino is in the Woodlands World building near the resort. The sporting good store is now located in downtown Uniontown.
Seven Springs’ plans include a $5.4 million casino that would create an estimated 350 jobs. The 26,900-square-foot facility would be built on the resort’s existing conference center, and include a dining and seating area.
Representatives of Seven Springs have not returned calls for comment on the resort’s proposal.
Both Seven Springs and Nemacolin Woodlands have applied for the Category 3 gaming license. Both probably will be approved because they are the only applicants and there will be two such licenses handed out statewide.
Part of the Category 3 license requirement is that those who use the casino also must patronize other facilities at the site. The minimum that has to be spent is $25.
Because of that licensing provision, the report indicated that there likely would be little traffic increase.
“Because Seven Springs is a full-service resort that already attracts visitors, it is expected that a significant portion of the slot machine users will be guests at the resort primarily there to utilize other facilities/services,” the report stated.
The report, prepared by Pennoni Associates Inc., indicated that even at peak time (Saturday evenings), the slots only would add abput 60 new trips through the area. Those trips would not significantly effect the area, but once Seven Springs begins planned expansions, changes may be necessary.
To mitigate future traffic problems, the study suggested adding traffic lights to areas on Routes 31, 711 and 381 that are near the resort.
The report indicated that emergency medical, police and fire services would be unaffected by the addition of slots. A letter from Seven Springs Borough police Chief Joseph Thomas stated that if it became necessary, he would increase the 15-person department.
In addition to the borough, police also cover the resort and adjacent areas. The department provides constant service with five full-time and seven part-time officers, along with the chief and two dispatchers, according Thomas’ letter.
Letters from the chief of the Seven Springs Volunteer Fire Department and the paramedic manager of the Somerset Area Ambulance Association both indicated that there was no reason to believe either area would be significantly impacted by the addition of the casino.
The report also found that there would be no impact on local water and sewer systems.
Unlike Nemacolin Woodlands, Seven Springs does not have public transportation making runs to its facility. There would be no impact in that area.
The impact study indicates that in the near future, Seven Springs plans to complete construction of 200 new housing units. Within the next seven to 10 years, a 3-acre outdoor water park and an additional 1,000 housing units are in the works.
The report indicated that the Champion resort attracts an estimated 1.2 million visitors annually and hosts upward of 1,000 meetings and conventions each year.
The date to register to speak at the public input hearings has passed, but the hearings are open to the public.
To view the impact reports, go to www.pgcb.state.pa.us and click on “Public Input Hearings and Local Impact Reports” at the bottom of the page.