That amendment, according to the city, is intended to provide more flexibility for local businesses to repurpose their spaces by removing geographic limitations for businesses including “nightlife.”

Originally, the Adams administration proposed including the zoning proposal in its “City of YES” zoning text amendment. “The state process includes the required approval of each application by a separate six-person Community Advisory Committee, which includes local elected officials.” “To ensure New York City applicants are not at a competitive disadvantage, the Department of City Planning and City Council will consider a standalone citywide zoning change that allows them to be judged within the guidelines of the state’s statutory process for considering casino license proposals,” they added. “Casinos have the potential to bring jobs and economic opportunities to New Yorkers, but applicants within New York City are at a disadvantage today because the city does not currently have a mechanism in our land use regulations to properly review casino siting,” Speaker Adams and Garodnick said in their statement. In addition to creating a pathway to rezone city land to build a casino, the proposal also would invite the public and elected officials to weigh in on developers’ gaming plans.Ĭurrently, both Resorts World in South Queens and Mets owner Steve Cohen are among the groups vying for a casino license, which could be handed out by the end of the year. The proposal, which will need to undergo its own public approval process, aims to make some city officials’ hopes of securing a license that much easier and more appealing in the eyes of the state. In a joint statement from Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and City Planning Commissioner Dan Garodnick, the city said it will be proposing an individualized approach to considering zoning for casinos as the five boroughs want a fair shot at securing one of the state’s licenses.

GameSense is a registered trademark of British Columbia Lottery Corporation, used under license by MGM Resorts International.A proposal from the City Council and Adams administration released this week could potentially create a new zoning process for casinos in New York City, as several applicants hope to earn one of three new state casino licenses to bring a casino to the five boroughs.

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