The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has approved an agreement paving the way for a tribal casino-resort on the site of the current River Rock Casino near Geyserville.
Following a meeting on Tuesday, the board voted 4-1 to approve the agreement, reports The Press Democrat, which outlines a project on Dry Creek Rancheria’s Alexander Valley land that would feature a nearly 300-room hotel, a 60,000-square-foot casino with up to 1,500 slot machines – about 300 more than in the existing gaming hall – a wedding chapel and spa, among other amenities.
The agreement replaces a 2008 deal between the county and tribe that allowed a larger project, including a hotel with up to 600 rooms and an 88,000-square-foot casino with up to 3,000 gaming devices.
Under this deal, Dry Creek Rancheria will pay the county $750,000 annually until four years after the resort is built, at which time a 2% annual increase will kick in. Annual payments will not exceed $1.5 million. The tribe does not yet have a definite timeline, as the project is still under development, according to Dry Creek Rancheria attorney Michelle Lee.
The tribe had announced plans 16 years ago that called for construction on what was then a $300 million luxury resort hotel and casino to replace its original gaming facility, which opened in 2002 overlooking the heart of Alexander Valley. Those plans never came to fruition.
The other Sonoma County casino, Graton Resort and Casino outside Rohnert Park, is the Bay Area’s largest destination, and its 2013 opening cut sharply into River Rock’s business. Graton Rancheria, the tribe behind the Rohnert Park Casino, is also now pursuing plans for a major expansion of its gaming floor and a second hotel tower.
Graton Resort and Casino
Another Pomo tribe, the Koi Nation, is seeking to develop a gaming resort outside Windsor, a move opposed by five Sonoma County-based tribes, as well as the county Board of Supervisors.
While the Dry Creek Rancheria’s new project was approved by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, some neighbors raised concerns about the potential project’s impact on crime, fire safety, and other quality of life issues.
However, the core issue came down to whether residents should be able to communicate directly with the tribe instead of going through the county’s public process and whether the new agreement eliminated necessary environmental study provisions. Neighbors said the county should have done more to include them in the three years of negotiations that led to Tuesday’s vote, reports The Press Democrat.
In the new proposed agreement with the county, Dry Creek Rancheria also agreed not to build a casino on 277 acres it owns near Petaluma’s southern border until at least 2035, a pledge that was seen as a major win by some officials. The provision is conditional, however, and would be nullified in the event the Koi Nation succeeds in its bid to build its proposed casino in Windsor.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2023/03/06/66327-california-sonoma-county-board-approves-agreement-for-dry-creek-rancheria-casino-in-the-area
