The proposed $425-million Lago Resort & Casino cleared several more hurdles after the Tyre Town Board unanimously voted in favor of motions related to the expensive project. Town officials are expected to announce their decision whether they approve the site plan for the hotel and casino venue on October 22 or some time later.
The announcement about the approved motions comes after the Tyre Town Board declared on October 1 that Lago would not have considerable adverse effects on the local environment, following a comprehensive environmental review.
Town officials approved at their most recent meeting the application for Planned Unit Development District that Wilmorite Inc., a Rochester-based real estate developer in charge of the expensive casino project, had submitted. Lago officials had applied for an 84.9-acre site along Thruway Exit 41.
The next motion that the Tyre Town Board approved was related to the revised plan for the future hotel and casino resort. According to that new plan, the multimillion-dollar complex is to offer a casino with 85 gaming tables and 2,000 slot machines, a 6-story, 207-room hotel, numerous entertainment, food and beverage, and other options, and a parking garage.
The third important topic that board members discussed was related to the so-called Local Law No.5 of 2015, under which the town zoning code has been amended in a manner that allowed the removal of the agricultural tag for the proposed site as well as the establishment of a PUD district.
Prior to voting on the local law, Katherine Bennet, a consulting attorney for Syracuse-based law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King, presented officials with two eight-page motions on the matter.
The first document was concerned with the PUD development plan, which was proposed in August. Ms. Bennett noted that the proposed plan met the requirements of the town zoning regulations. The eight-page document also pointed to 12 reasons why the town board should back the project.
The second legal document was concerned with the proposed Local Law No.5 of 2015. If enforced, the law would amend the town’s zoning map and code in a manner that would allow the addition of a PUD district for the projected gambling venue.
According to the eight-page motion, the law is consistent with the town regulations and would allow Tyre to continue maintaining its rural character and promoting the conservation of agricultural land, while at the same time strengthening its tax base through the proposed multimillion-dollar casino development.
Once presented with the two motions, board members voted unanimously in their favor. Officials then discussed when they were going to review the proposed site plan for Lago. The matter is to be considered no earlier than October 22, provided that the Department of State has approved Local Law No.5 of 2015 prior to that.
A spokesperson for Thomas Wilmot, CEO of Wilmorite and President of Lago Resort & Casino, said that they are heartened by the approval of their development plan and their enthusiasm for being welcomed as Tyre’s newest neighbor has been growing constantly.
Lago is yet to be granted a casino license by the New York State Gaming Commission, together with the two casino resorts that were recommended by the state Gaming Facility Location Board last December.
