What Happens When a Casino Comes to Town?

Considering Environmental Impacts of an Expanded Casino & Destination Resort in

Saratoga Springs, NY

Things Start To Change…

“Every large-scale development changes the community it’s located in and those communities surrounding it;

a casino is no different.” –Marc Draisen, Metro Area Planning Council, Milford, MA

…In Our City in the Country

Rural-Residential Concerns

• Casinos in rural-residential areas expose neighbors to increased

traffic, noise, and light pollution well beyond that experienced with the

existing harness-racing track. –IHHAAC Board, MD, July 2013

In May 2013, the Racino proposed this Hotel Resort expansion. This does NOT include the casino expansion.

200 Rooms – Requires at at least 27,000 gallons of water a day.

5 Story Hotel – Seen from every direction within residential neighborhoods.

Increased parking for 2.5 million guests per year– increased impermeable surfaces and storm-water run off.

Increased Light Pollution

Increased traffic through neighborhoods to accommodate the increased number of guests & service deliveries anticipated.

Removal of extant green space for expansion

Racino will incur another expansion if the Casino license is awarded.

If this stays here as planned…

Then the hotel goes here…Then where does

the second expansion go?

“We are planning a $30 million expansion this spring to include a 120-room hotel, performance center, restaurant & other attractions…

If it’s awarded, another expansion would be necessary.”

-James Featherstonhaugh, 25% Racino shareholder

Water• Resort-style casinos require a great deal of water. A 200 room hotel

at 90% capacity uses 27,000 gallons of water per day. That’s 810,000 gallons per month, 9.7 gallons of water a year. This does not include pools or spas. – 4Hotelier News

• Casino & Destination Resorts often require their own water treatment plants and/or wells when placed in Rural/Residential areas. Wells allow casino resorts to avert paying for City water.

• -Racino Digs Well For Water, TribToday.com, October 29, 2013

• Saratoga already has significant water delivery issues. Restort-style casinos require a great deal of water, energy, raising issues of waste & sewage disposal. – Smith College, The Environment Implacation of Allowing Resort Casinos, Chazin & Onuzo.

• Large paved parking lots create water drainage issues, requiring water basins. Nelson Avenue is already plagued with water drainage issues.

WHERE WILL ALL THIS WATER COME FROM?

Traffic & Light Pollution• Cities often under-estimate traffic predictions

-patrons, tourist buses, service trucks - and often do not take into account traffic patterns on residential roads. –Greenbelt Alliaten, Baylands, CA

• Increased traffic…potentially ovewhelmingcurrent infrastructure and more greenhouse gas emissions. –Smith College, Ibid.

The Saratoga Racino currently operates from 9am-4am. A casino license allows operation for 24 hours. A five room hotel & casino expansion will only add to current

light pollution in this residential neighborhood.

Green Space Effects

Wetlands tributary of Kaydeross Creek. These tributaries are already IMPAIRED waterways on the DEC List.

Casinos Are Big Developments…• Big developments bring changes.

• Changes can begin quietly & slowly.

• Often people who live in surrounding areas are unaware of what’s happening.

• Rezoning in anticipation of big changes is already occurring.

• Before you know it, your City in the Country is:

• At Risk

• Threatened

• Gone

Once zoned Rural-Residential, the beautiful farmland across from the Racino has recently and quietly been rezoned as Institutional Horse. What does that mean?

This property is now zoned to accommodate: Eating & Drinking establishments, Entertainment venues, Helicopter pad, and Pari-mutualhotels.

This is a proposal for the Saratoga Springs Greenbelt Trail system.

A great trail system which connects the entire City in the Country including:

• Skidmore College• Broadway • Spa State Park• And Lake Lonely

Sounds Good Right?

30.7 Acres Owned by BHMD Inc. & Harness Racing Inc.

Gideon Putnam Hotel & Spa, Delaware North, Operated by Genting Casino Company

Saratoga National

800 Acres poised for new Destination Resort Zoning

The Greenbelt Trail (shown in green) is proposed to travel along Crescent Avenue, directly connecting the Gideon Putnam Hotel to the Racino, to Saratoga National Golf Course and ultimately to Lake Lonely.

Darley Stud Management –Rezoned for Pari-mutual hotels

This gateway property recently rezoned for Turf Hotel Development –Tourist Industries

What does that mean?

Large developers seek to change over 800 acres of Saratoga Springs’ current

RURAL ZONING and turn it into RESORT ZONING

What Our Green Belt Could Include in RESORT ZONING:

• Golf Academy Building

• Equestrian Center/Riding Stable

• Residential – single family, apartments and/or condominiums

• Spa and Fitness Center

• Hotel lodging and associate amenities

• Golf cottages, bed and breakfast type lodging

• Affordable / workforce housing

• Retail space

Be Aware…• When developers in this Resort Zone offer to pay

for these gifts:

• Trails

• Walkways

• Biking

• Recreation areas

They Often Come With A Hefty Cost to The City:

• Zoning Changes Favoring Dense Development

• Negative Environmental Impacts

• Traffic, Noise & Light Pollution, Water issues

“Our greenbelt was put into place for the benefit of future generations, not so investors can use their influence to whittle away at our land and

open space.” - Greenbelt Alliance, Baylands, CA

Is Our City In the Country at Risk?

• The expanded casino at Saratoga Casino & Raceway will be built away from our urban core.

• This is direct opposition to the City’s working Comprehensive Plan.

• The new casino will border Saratoga’s Greenbelt, making it a…

CASINO IN THE COUNTRY.

When it Comes to Casino Expansion:

• THERE IS:• NO COMPROMISE• NO PROMISE• NO GIFT

THEY CAN MAKE THAT WE CAN TRUST OR BUILD OUR FUTURE ON.• THANKS, BUT NO THANKS. • Saratogians build our past and should

build our future.