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Q&A
Council Member Riley questions applicants about Queen's Future project approvals and next steps
0:30:36
ยท
3 min
Council Member Kevin C. Riley engages in a Q&A session with representatives from Queen's Future LLC and their legal counsel about the proposed casino development project. The discussion focuses on clarifying the approval process, the interdependence of various approvals, and the potential outcomes if the project doesn't receive necessary approvals.
- The applicants explain that they need local zoning and land use approvals before being considered for a state gaming license.
- It's confirmed that if the project doesn't receive a gaming license, the rezoning approvals would have no effect and the site would likely remain a parking lot.
- The next steps in the approval process, including state legislation and community advisory council hearings, are outlined.
Kevin C. Riley
0:30:36
Thank you so much.
0:30:38
Before I turn it over to council member Moy, I just have a few questions.
Michael Sullivan
0:30:41
Yes, sir.
Kevin C. Riley
0:30:42
I know you stated a lot of this for the record, but I'm just gonna ask it for the record so you could reinstate it.
0:30:48
I realize you touched on this issue, but can you please restate for everyone why you're seeking these land use approvals now and not waiting to see if you are actually awarded a license?
David Karnovsky
0:30:59
The state licensing process set forth in the state gaming law is very clear that in order to be eligible for the award of a license, we must obtain our local zoning and land use approvals prior to the consideration by the state entities that you outlined in your opening remarks.
0:31:15
So that's why we're here today.
Kevin C. Riley
0:31:17
Thank you.
0:31:18
It is important to clarify the relationship between the rezoning you're asking for and the parkland alienation that you need to obtain from the state to go forward with this proposal.
0:31:28
What happens if the council approves this rezoning, but the state legislature does not approve the alienation, excuse me?
David Karnovsky
0:31:36
The effectiveness of any approval of the city map amendments by the city council is contingent on the receipt of legislation and the award of the license.
0:31:45
So the City Planning Commission adopted in favor with a condition that basically said that the city map changes would not take effect unless and until a license is awarded.
0:31:55
In turn, a license can't be awarded unless the state legislation has been received.
0:31:59
So that's the way it works.
Kevin C. Riley
0:32:01
What happens if the council approves this rezoning, the state legislator approves the parkland alienation, but the state does not award you a gaming facility license, can you confirm that you would not be able to redevelop the site based on the rezoning?
David Karnovsky
0:32:16
That is correct.
Kevin C. Riley
0:32:18
Again, to be very clear, you agree that if you are not awarded a gaming facility license by the state, then the approvals you are seeking today will serve no purpose.
David Karnovsky
0:32:28
That is correct.
0:32:29
They are all linked to the award of the license.
0:32:31
If there is no license, they will have no effect.
Kevin C. Riley
0:32:34
What will happen at the development site if the Queen's future project does not receive one of the three down state gaming license?
Michael Sullivan
0:32:44
We won't have the permission to build anything else on the land, and it will likely remain a parking lot, at least for the next eighty one years.
Kevin C. Riley
0:32:53
If we seek approval of these land use approvals you're seeking, what's the next step for this proposal?
Michael Sullivan
0:33:00
It's a great question.
0:33:01
So there's a bunch of simultaneous actions going on.
0:33:04
We're obviously working through all our entitlements.
0:33:07
We need to pass a permitted use bill in Albany, which we were working on throughout this session.
0:33:12
And then, mister chairman, as you outlined in your opening remarks, we then have to go through the CAC series of hearings and then votes later this summer.
0:33:21
Then ultimately, it goes to the location citing board and then ultimately to the gaming commission to determine whether they wanna give us a license or not.
0:33:28
So this is a long process, and this question debate around the gaming aspects of this will happen this summer as part of that CAC, community advisory council process.
0:33:37
Process.
Kevin C. Riley
0:33:38
Thank you so much.
0:33:40
I will now recognize council member Moyer for some questioning.