The City Council last night rejected a motion to oppose any casino development in the city.
At-large Councilor David A. Flaherty submitted a request for a resolution in opposition to a casino development, a motion he withdrew after discussion during which other council members said the resolution would violate the process established by the state under which communities will collectively decide the fate of casino projects.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik recently confirmed casino developers are interested in developing the property, located between Barnes Regional Airport and East Mountain Road, that was formerly the proposed location for the Pavilion Mall. The property is listed on the city’s Assessor maps as being 216 acres, with the ownership listed as Westfield 1, LLC, Owens Road, LLC and Billerica Realty Associates Limited Partnership of 145 Rosemary St., Needham, Mass.
“The land owner has been contacted by no less than three casino project proponents,” Knapik said. “The city has had some discussion of a project with only one casino developer.”
Knapik declined to name the casino developers assessing the site next to the airport, but said that two of the three are “brand” names in that industry.
Two of the casino developers looking for sites in western Massachusetts recently withdrew from projects proposed in Holyoke and Brimfield.
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino group was considering a partnership with Paper City Development to construct a casino at the 100-acre Wycoff Country Club, while MGM Resorts had been considering a 150-acre site in Brimfield to construct the Rolling Hills Resort.
Both of those projects were withdrawn because of the cost of constructing infrastructure and access to the sites. The estimated cost of providing access to the Westfield site is about $30 million, far less than either the Holyoke or Brimfield projects.
“This is just a resolution to allow people to know our opinion,” Flaherty said. “It is not binding, but tells people where we are on this issue.”
At-large Councilor Brian Sullivan said he is “opposed to the council doing anything (related to the casino interest). It will be up to the public to decide through a referendum.”
Ward 2 Councilor James E. Brown Jr., said state law defines the process through which communities will decide and that Flaherty’s motion violates the spirit of that process.
Ward 6 Councilor Christopher Crean, in whose ward the property of interest is located, called Flaherty’s motion “premature” and that he would not “abdicate my right to let any project go through the vetting process” before making a decision.
“I don’t think the council should have an opinion before that vetting process to see if any commercial development is good for the community,” Crean said. “Let the process work, let residents decide.”
Ward 3 Councilor Peter J. Miller Jr. said that while “not a big fan” of casinos in general, the decision will be a personal decision for all residents.
“I don’t think the council, as a body, should weigh in on this. Everybody should do that on their own,” Miller said.
Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell also expressed reservations about any casino development in the city.
“I’m not in favor of a casino in Westfield. Let (Springfield) Mayor (Domenic J.) Sarno, who has vowed to ‘fight tooth and nail’ for a casino, have it in Springfield,” she said.
At-large Councilor Agma Sweeney said the issue of casinos “divides communities” and asked if Flaherty’s motion could be tabled.
“Then we can revisit it when we have more information, when we know what the proposals are,” she said.
At that point Flaherty requested the council to allow him to withdraw the motion.
