Despite the fact that it has already received approval by Delta City Council earlier this summer, some opponents of the planned casino complex in Ladner believe the project must be put as a question on the upcoming municipal election ballot in October.
Some people who protested against the casino expansion have still been urging local authorities to include the project in a referendum in order to check local residents’ opinion.
Recently, one opponent of the casino and hotel project has asked the city to add the matter as a simple question requiring a “yes” or “no” answer to the October ballot to see whether local voters support the expansion. In response to that letter, it was revealed that final consideration regarding the permission of the casino and hotel complex’ construction had been given by the Delta City Council.
Reportedly, the application has been sent to the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), seeking a final approval. Still, a resolution of the City Council would be required in order for the matter to be included on the ballot set for October 20th as a “non-binding” question seeking the local community’s opinion. The council resolution, however, needs to be provided at its next meeting set for September 17th, in order to meet the deadlines regarding ballot design and printing materials.
City Coucil Gives Delta Casino Preliminary Approval with 4-2 Vote
Earlier this year, the proposed Delta Casino got a preliminary approval by the City Council, which greenlighted the project with a 4-2 vote in favor of Gateway’s application. The casino and hotel complex, called Delta Cascades Casino, has been estimated at a total of CA$70 million. The gambling and entertainment complex is to be built at the Delta Town & Country site, with construction works set to start this fall, with the grand opening of the complex expected to be held in 2020.
BCLC gave its preliminary approval for a Delta-based casino in 2017, with Gateway Casinos and Entertainment being chosen as the future operator of the facility. A number of consultations, meetings and information campaigns have been held across the city since then, with the first and second reading of the proposed casino expansion given in April 2018. Following a public hearing held at the beginning of May, Delta City Council finally gave its approval of the project, despite the fact that the majority of the people being present at the meeting said they were strongly against the casino.
As Casino Reports revealed earlier, the proposed gambling facility which will be run under the Cascades’ branding, is set to be situated at the Delta Town and Country Inn site in Ladner. According to the project presented by Gateway Casinos, it would feature about 500 slot machines and up to 24 gaming tables, and the adjacent hotel facility would have up to 124 rooms.
