Council votes 7-0 for gaming district
Action goes against Warr’s wishes
GULFPORT - The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to create an entertainment gaming district that stretches from the site occupied by the Oasis Hotel to West Pier, against the wishes of the mayor.
Mayor Brent Warr can veto the decision, but with a 7-0 vote for the plan, the veto would likely be overturned.
The action came at the recommendation of the Planning Commission, which voted Thursday to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance and the zoning map.
Rick Carter and Terry Green, who co-own the Copa Casino, want to buy the property owned by Harrah’s Entertainment, formerly the Grand Casino. It includes land between 30th and 36th avenues, north of U.S. 90 and south of 11th Street.
The men, owners of Gulfside Casino Partnership, plan to invest more than $200 million in a land-based casino. They are scheduled to close on the property March 15.
The discussion at last week’s Planning Commission meeting became confusing when the Department of Urban Development planning staff recommended that the commission end the district at 33rd Avenue instead of 30th, which is what a map advertised in the newspaper showed.
Warr said at the commission meeting that prior discussions about the district only included property from 36th Avenue to 33rd, the Oasis location.
Carter agreed, but said he was concerned he might not get the financial backing he needed because he pledged all six blocks of real estate, even though he only plans to build a casino on the Oasis property.
Warr released a statement after the council meeting.
“A directive was given to our Urban Development Department based on the request of the applicant to allow gaming in the building formerly known as the Oasis Hotel. This directive was repeated more than once by the mayor and the chief administrative officer (David Nichols).
“While I had all confidence that these instructions would be carried out correctly, upon review of the maps prior to the meeting, it was clear that an error had been made,” Warr said.
By TRACY DASH tadash@sunherald.com
Source: Sun Herald