New Casino Project Finds Little Opposition

Tribe’s Second Try in Placer County Is Picking Up Momentum

By Art Campos, Sacramento Bee

A proposal for a multimillion dollar gaming casino in west Placer County by the same American Indian tribe that failed to establish one in Penryn three years ago appears to be gaining momentum and the  project could be built within two years.

The casino could be as large as 200,000 square feet and employ between 700 and 1,200 people.

It would be built on 56 acres of unincorporated land among Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln at the intersection of Athens Road and Industrial Avenue, which rests in an industrial zone, away from homes, schools  and churches.

The proposal marks the second time in three years that the United Auburn Indian Community has made a pitch for construction of a gambling facility in Placer County.

A casino was targeted for Penryn in 1996, but that proposal was scratched after residents there complained that traffic, noise and a gaming facility would disrupt their lives.

So far, the new location hasn’t brought much opposition.

"From a compatibility standpoint, this is probably one of the better sites for that kind of activity," said Donald Lunsford, Placer County executive officer. "There are no nearby neighbors, it’s  a fair-sized piece of land and it borders a major highway (Highway 65) and an industrial area."

Cheryl Schmit, co-director of a citizen’s group called Stand Up For California, and Roseville City Manager Al Johnson weren’t thrilled with the prospect of a casino but felt the Athens Road location  would be the most acceptable site.

"A casino has many negative impacts, but (the tribe) has chosen a site this time that would lessen those impacts on the community," said Schmit, A Penryn resident who helped lead opposition to the 1996 casino project.

Johnson said he doesn’t "think any elected governing body is going to jump up and down in happiness over a casino, but we realize that the tribe has a right to build one. They have a better opportunity here than anywhere else."

Though lukewarm to the idea of a casino, neighboring jurisdictions are at least pleased that the United Auburn Indian Community which includes about 160 Maidu and Miwok Indians, wants to enter into an agreement so that the facility’s potential effects on concerns such as traffic can be addressed.

Under federal law, tribes can buy land, have it placed under federal jurisdiction and then build housing or gaming facilities without being required to adhere to local or state regulations.

Cindy Schaer, Rocklin’s economic development director, said it was comforting for local governments to know to know that the tribe wants to work with them.

"That’s something (the Indians) don’t have to do," she said. "But they want to go through an environmental process and a design review process. They’re making attempts to identify impacts and then work on mitigating them."

Douglas Elmets, president of a public relations firm hired by the tribe, called the United Auburn Indian’s approach "historic."

"I know of no other tribe in the United States that has entered into a comprehensive agreement with local governments," he said. "We have taken everyone’s concerns to heart and we want to incorporate those views into the memorandum of understanding."

So far, the tribe has met with neighboring cities, municipal advisory committees, Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, chambers of commerce and other groups and agencies that might have concerns about a casino’s effects.

Howard Dickstein, an attorney representing the United Auburn Indian Community, said the tribe has an option to buy the land for the casino and is also interested in 1,100 acres for a 90-lot housing development near Karchner Road in Camp Far West, near the Yuba County boarder. The combined price of both properties would be "several million dollars," the lawyer said.

Dickstein couldn’t say how much sales tax might be generated for Placer County. But he said he was certain that the casino itself would make "millions" in revenue for the tribe each year.

Money for the land purchases and the construction will be given by the Rumsey Rancheria in Yolo County, Dickstein said. The Indians in Rumsey operate the Cache Creek gaming facility.

Dickstein said the tribe is willing to mitigate possible effects on neighboring cities or the county, such as paying for the hiring of more sheriff's deputies and the buying of patrol cars.

Other mitigations include the tribe paying for improvements to Fiddyment Road, the widening of Highway 65 and the upgrading of railroad crossings.

"We would reimburse the county for all consequences," Dickstein said.

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