ANGOLA, Ind. (WLKI)- The Steuben County Board of Commissioners has returned a proposed casino zoning amendment to the county Plan Commission for additional revisions.
The amendment would establish development standards for a casino built within the county's planning jurisdiction. It was based largely on casino zoning language drafted in 2008 and setback requirements used for confined animal feeding operations.
According to county officials, a Plan Commission subcommittee developed the amendment during two public meetings earlier this summer in hopes of having local regulations approved before voters consider a casino referendum in November.
The Plan Commission approved the proposed amendment Aug. 5 before sending it to the commissioners.
Returning the proposal to the Plan Commission narrows the window for adopting the regulations before the election. Because the proposal involves zoning, commissioners must approve it through three separate readings held at three different meetings.
Commissioners could have approved the amendment on first reading and revised it before final passage. They instead determined that additional work was needed before beginning the approval process.
One concern involved a provision requiring a casino development to include at least 250 hotel rooms.
Commissioner Rick Shipe questioned the source of that requirement because the final state law does not establish a minimum number of hotel rooms. Earlier versions of the legislation may have included the requirement.
The law requires a physical casino and nongaming amenities at the development site. It also requires the casino company to invest at least $500 million in the project.
Supporters of the proposed amendment argued that adopting specific zoning standards would give developers and residents a clear set of requirements. Without the amendment, a developer could seek a variance under less restrictive rules.
The proposed zoning process would also require a public hearing before a project could move forward.
Casino opponent Theresa Steele raised concerns that the amendment would place permitting authority with the Board of Zoning Appeals instead of the elected Board of Commissioners. She asked to be added to the Plan Commission's casino subcommittee, but commissioners said the committee's membership was controlled by the Plan Commission.
Indiana lawmakers approved legislation authorizing a 14th inland casino license during the spring legislative session. The casino could be located in Allen, DeKalb or Steuben County.
Election officials in all three counties certified the referendum question before the Aug. 1 deadline.
If voters approve the referendum, casino companies could bid for the license and would be required to pay a $150 million licensing fee. The winning bidder would then select one of the three counties for the development.
If the referendum fails in all three counties, another vote could not be held without additional action by the Indiana General Assembly.
A party connected to the gaming industry has already secured an option on land near Walters Lake, west of Fremont. A proposed resort at the site could include a casino, hotel, golf course and other amenities.
The Walters Lake property falls under Fremont's planning and zoning jurisdiction. Fremont officials have imposed a moratorium on casino development activity.