Jamul Tribe Revises Casino and Hotel Plans
The Jamul Tribe Indian Reservation's proposed high-rise casino and hotel has had changes in plans, deviating from its original 30-story proposal to a present two-phase construction, the first of which will stand less than half of the original.
Jamul tribal leaders have given out new details about the proposed casino and hotel as they spread notice of an upcoming draft environmental report on the casino project. According to Jamul tribal chairman Leon Acebedo, present plans include a two-story casino atop a parking structure of 8 to 9 levels --- about a third of which will be underground --- with the topmost floor reserved for administration, adding up to 11-12 stories. Following the hotels opening, but not earlier than that, would be the construction of an adjacent 400-room hotel. The hotel could possibly reach the height of 20-stories, if not more.
The project has been a controversial topic in the small town, it has been by far the region's most contested Indian casino proposal. Jamul is just 20 miles East of San Diego, but many of the small town folks still consider it to be rural despite the proximity to the big city.
The $200 million dollar casino project is to be financed by the tribe's partner, the Minnesota-based Lakes Gaming. The first phase of construction would be covering four of the six acres of reservation land, where the parking and casino structure would be. The hotel would then follow to be built on the remaining two acres, according to Acebedo.
A Tribal Draft Impact Report concerning the casino project is being prepared and is now on its final stages before release. A 30-day comment period has been offered on a "notice of preparation" for the said report. The seven-page notice will be covering 15 topics covering community concerns regarding the proposed casino, from Traffic to "unavoidable adverse impacts". The notice aims to gather feedback from concerned individuals who want their views to be heard. (Comments will be accepted through July 26 and should be mailed to Chairman Leon Acebedo, Jamul Indian Village, P.O. Box 612, Jamul, CA 91935)
July 26 is expected to mark the issuance of the draft, to be followed by another comment period of 45 says, where a public meeting regarding the concerns will also be staged.
Acebedo is bracing himself for the worst, expecting a majority of negative responses from the residents of Jamul. "I expect we'll have those folks who voice their opposition. Again, that's their privilege," he said. "We'll make any mitigation as we need to."
Many have voiced out their worry about increased traffic and putting the natural resources of Jamul at risk should the casino and hotel project push through.
