Business & Tech

Sharp Questions, Comments in Foxwoods Casino Community Forum

The Foxwoods Massachusetts community forums ended Tuesday with sharp questions and criticism from an audience at Doubletree Hotel.

Foxwoods Massachusetts casino officials fielded more than an hour of peppery questions Tuesday from an audience dominated by critics of its proposal to build a $1 billion casino in Milford.

The third and final community forum organized by casino executives drew the largest crowd, more than 100 people, many of whom openly criticized the application. Several speakers said they lived near the proposed site.

During an overview of the project, the chief engineer of the project told the audience that federal authorities will not allow the casino to be placed on sensitive "vernal pools," forcing a movement of the development footprint to a point just 600 to 700 feet from the closest homes.

Sean Reardon, of Framingham-based TetraTech, said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees development near wetlands, will not allow the developer to install the casino on a site overlooking I-495. Instead, it has to be moved upland, away from the breeding areas used by salamanders and tree frogs, because this has the least environmental impact, Reardon said.

"They were unequivocal," Reardon said, of a meeting Tuesday among casino and Corps officials.

In addition to its concern about the wetlands used by the frogs and salamanders, the Corps objected to the relocation of the power lines, Reardon said, which would result in clear cutting for the newly claimed land.

The confirmation Tuesday of a shift in site location drew several sharp comments from the audience, including from one of the first Milford residents who spoke, who asked when the changes to the casino plan would stop.

"When will there be no more changes in the planning of Foxwoods?" asked Harold Rhodes. "Are you expecting us to vote on something that might change?"

When Reardon said any plan put before voters will "not deviate substantially" from the ultimate development, Rhodes responded sharply. "Not deviate substantially is not good enough," he said.

Other residents questioned the impact on local roads and the highway traffic, on water resources and whether the casino would bring more crime to the area. The tone of the questions was hostile at times, more sharp than in previous meetings.

A man who lives on Whitney Street said he could see nothing environmentally conscious about the application. "I see your second phase digging and destroying precious natural resources."

Beverly Swymer questioned whether the casino officials had considered the impact on Milford Regional Medical Center, and said the project would contribute to people with gambling addictions. "It will definitely impact our community and our hospital," she said.

After several critical questions, Allan Kronberg, who will be general manager of the casino if it is approved, said the executives want to work with people or organizations with concerns about the development. He pointed out in an overview that it would bring 3,000 permanent jobs to Milford, and said he's already getting professionals and other people stopping by the Foxwoods Massachusetts offices to ask about employment.

The $20 million annual payment the casino wants to give to Milford, in lieu of taxes, could be used by the town to improve ball fields, town technology, and help to build a new school, he said.

"There are two sides to every story," he said. "We want to work with you."

Kim Smith, of Milford, asked whether the developer would widen I-495 — beyond the access roads — to accommodate the additional traffic generated by the project. One of the peak hours for casino traffic will be 5 to 6 p.m. Fridays, hitting the same time as rush hour for commuters. Between 6 and 7 p.m. Fridays, executives expect 2,100 cars will either leave or enter the casino, most of it via I-495.

The Foxwoods Massachusetts group will pay for all road improvements for the casino, including the new collector-distributor access to the site. But it will not widen I-495, the officials said.

Smith, who commutes daily to Route 9 on I-495, said many Milfordians are stuck in the traffic at rush hour now. "I can't even imagine, with the numbers you guys are talking about."



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