Date, times set for open houses on casino
UPDATE (Wednesday, July 30, 10:45 a.m.) — Two open houses will be held next Wednesday, Aug. 6 to update the public on plans for a $34 million casino at the former Rona property on Versatile Drive.
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment released details of the open houses, which will be at the Rona property at 1555 Versatile Dr., today. There will be two of them, the first between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and another between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Aug. 6.
In addition to the detailed project boards displayed at the first set of open houses in May, information will be available on proposed traffic solutions, transportation options and the planned shuttle service to the new Cascades Casino.
The new casino would replace the Lake City Casino at Hotel 540 on Victoria Street.
The open houses come in the wake of Tuesday’s decision by Kamloops City council to proceed to a public hearing on an application for a bylaw amendment that would allow casino use at the Rona property.
Casino plan will go to public hearing
NEWS/ CITY HALL — The public will be given a chance to speak on the proposal to move the Lake City Casino from Victoria Street to the former Rona building supply store on Versatile Drive.
Lake City Casino on Victoria Street.
Kamloops City council voted unanimously today (Tuesday) to send a rezoning application to a public hearing despite a recommendation from staff that it be rejected.
A report from the planning department said facilitating the move by the casino out of the downtown core would be contrary to both the community plan and the downtown plan. But there was little discussion of the report as council voted unanimously in favour of a public hearing, tentatively set for Aug. 19.
City development services director Marvin Kwiatkowski said staff recommended denying the move because it goes against KamPlan, the municipal plan that maps out how development should occur throughout Kamloops.
KamPlan encourages hotels and entertainment venues such as convention centres and performing arts facilities in the city centre, he said.
“The city centre plan also encourages a variety of restaurant and entertainment uses within the downtown core,” he said.
“The downtown core is important to create a sense of place and focus.”
However, if council decided to proceed, staff recommended traffic issues be studied as there were concerns about the impacts the Versatile casino location would have.
“Those traffic issues need to be worked out yet,” Kwiatkowski said.
Coun. Tina Lange made the motion to take the casino application to a public hearing. She and other council members all commended staff for their 27-page report on the application, but all argued they wanted to hear what the public and business communities had to say.
“I think we need that opportunity to hear from the community,” she said.
Coun. Pat Wallace said it’s up to council to get community advice as well as considering staff’s recommendations.
“I also have tremendous respect for the staff and the job they do. But it’s councils who set out the rules and regulations and get community advice. We carry it out by criteria set out for all applications. Staff were correct in what they did. Personally, I’d like to go to a public hearing.”
Coun. Ken Christian was eager to find out what the traffic study will suggest, as the intersection of Hugh Allan and Versatile is “already failing,” he said.
“We need traffic study regardless of this.”
Coun. Marg Spina suggested information about other B.C. casinos that are located near highways be provided at the public hearing.
City planner Randy Lambright said traffic issues at the Versatile Drive property haven’t been resolved but, “We’re working on it. It’s getting close.”
Gateway Casinos will also hold public open houses Aug. 5 and 6, next Tuesday and Wednesday, at the Rona site.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
The propery has already been purchased by the casino and IMHO the casino will go ahead..Why would a large company spend that kind of money if the project wasn’t going to be approved and go ahead? IMHO They…city council and the casino are just going through the motions….its a done deal. I have yet to hear of a large purchase like this in kamloops being turned down. There is an old saying it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for approval. The casino must pay for any and all traffic studies as well as any construction modifications related to the increased traffic congestion. That interestion is very very congested.
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Hate to say I told you so!!!..any bets the tax payer will stuck with the addition costs of improving the traffic flow???
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Lyman….that road is called Versatile Drive I do believe.
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Thanks for the pointers Mel. Some people just like to get all upset and spout off on an issue when they really don’t understand who the politics work (myself included).
@Lyman, I believe you are speaking of Versatile and Hugh Allan intersection. A traffic light there would be terrible and just back up traffic. From what I have read the city is going to put in a two-lane roundabout which would make the traffic flow a bit smoother.
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Would be nice to know when the open houses are on the 5th and 6th of August.
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Council is turning this into a full scale dog, pony, and clown show. Being an election year they are too scared to stand up to city staff, and make a simple decision on this matter. Instead, they take the cowards way out with ” public hearings “, and ” traffic studies “. Are they hoping to delay this till after Nov. ? There are hotels all over the place, big box stores everywhere, bars everywhere. There are theaters well away from the downtown. I have to ask , What Kamplan ? City staff , in my opinion, is over stepping their bounds on this one, Once again, council proves that it is not capable of supervising city staff, and setting the proper boundaries for them.
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Council’s options were to reject the rezoning application without calling a public hearing, or to call a public hearing before making a decision. By calling the public hearing, council decided against immediate rejection. The staff recommendation was based on community plan goals aimed at protecting the vitality of the downtown core, a document approved by council. But it would be highly unusual for council not to call a public hearing on a major project so that people can express their opinions.
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A major project? Is this a major project? Did they have a public hearing when Rona built the building in the first place? BTW a traffic light is needed at the intersection of whatever that road it is called and Hugh Allan Drive. Going to Costco occasionally is always an interesting proposition regarding the traffic,
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Public hearings depend on whether a rezoning of the land is necessary.
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Thanks for the clarification Mel. It doesn’t change my opinion of councils antics, nor those of city staff. A sitting councilor once told me that they were afraid to set boundaries, or treat city managers like the employees they are, for fear that they would get no cooperation when they needed something from them. A very sad state of affairs in my book.
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