Massachusetts gambling industry regulators held a public hearing Monday to focus on the impacts a planned resort casino in downtown Springfield will have on surrounding communities. The hearing is part of an exhaustive evaluation process that is expected to culminate with MGM Resorts being awarded a casino license later this year.
Several state and local elected officials urged the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to scrutinize the traffic and parking plans for MGM’s proposed Springfield casino. The $800 million project is in an already congested area – just a block from the busy Hampden County courthouse. Interstate 91, which is to carry the bulk of the casino-bound traffic, is slated to undergo major repairs soon.
State Rep. Mike Finn of West Springfield urged the five commissioners to assure that traffic and other problems associated with the casino are properly mitigated.
" Please don't let the scars of Springfield's economic facelift be seen in West Springfield. Please do all you can to see that our interests are protected as much as the host city itself."
State Senator Gale Candaras of Wilbraham said she is concerned that state agencies responsible for transportation and public buildings are not working with MGM.
" My concern is that MGM will construct a beautiful casino and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will promptly direct all traffic away from it"
West Springfield Mayor Edward Sullivan, whose town defeated its own casino agreement with Hard Rock International,called for MGM to make a greater investment in transportation infrastructure to encourage more pedestrian and bicycle usage with less vehicular traffic.
" We're delighted that Springfield might end up with a casino, we just want to make sure it is not at the peril of surrounding communities like West Springfield."
MGM has negotiated annual payments to five communities that abut Springfield, as well as the city of Holyoke, to mitigate impacts the casino will have on traffic and municipal services. Negotiations continue with West Springfield and Longmeadow. If no deal is reached there will be arbitration.
The hearing at the West Springfield Middle School drew about 100 people. Even though Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby said the purpose was not to debate whether casinos belong in Massachusetts, there was plenty of that during the course of the four-hour hearing.
Casino opponents, like Jerome Noonan of Longmeadow, had a forum to promote a question that could appear on the November ballot asking voters to repeal casino gambling in Massachusetts.
"I'd ask the commission to make a decision not just about MGM, but rather you are in office to protect the citizens or to enable casinos without regard to the downsides."
Judy Matt, a Springfield resident and president of Spirit of Springfield, voiced unqualified support for the MGM Springfield casino.
"I believe this MGM project will be a profound catalyst for a regional renaissance that will respect the history, traditions and pride at the heart of Springfield and the region."
Crosby said what the five-member commission heard at the hearing will be considered during their evaluation of MGM’s application for a casino license.
" We have a 16,000 page application from the applicant itself. We are going through that in terms of finance , economic development and so forth, but we want to hear what else people have to say."
MGM is the only developer seeking the lone resort casino license authorized by state law for western Massachusetts. The gaming commission is expected to issue the license in May.
Crosby said a public hearing on the MGM project will be held in Springfield on April 1st.
