Last week, the public got a first look at some of the preliminary details of Mason-Dixon Downs, the Pennsylvania Standardbred racino that has been proposed for Freedom Township in Adams County, located near the Maryland border.
As an article by the Hanover Evening Sun explains, 70 members of the public crowded into a meeting of Freedom Township’s board of supervisors last week as some details of the proposals were divulged.
During the meeting, David LeVan, the Gettysburg businessman that is trying to make the proposal a reality, explained that there is a symbiotic relationship between gaming and the State of Pennsylvania. "What we're proposing isn't new," LeVan said. "In fact, in a commonwealth with such rich history, it's somewhat common. Gaming and Pennsylvania's rich historical heritage already co-exist quite nicely."
Some of the information that LeVan unveiled during the meeting included an aerial layout of where and how Mason-Dixon Downs will be situated in Freedom Township.
LeVan – whose proposal has the backing of Hanover Shoe Farms and the Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania – said in the meeting that the proposed location has passed an archeological survey and has been cleared by the state’s historical and museum commission.
In late December, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an order to Mahoning Township that ended the possibility of the much-talked about Standardbred racino Lawrence Downs. The Supreme Court order quashed the township’s appeal of the state’s rejection of the casino licence application. Via that action, the licence formally designated for Lawrence County technically became available to applicants anywhere in the state.
In January, LeVan announced his intention to apply for and secure the state’s final harness racing licence and gaming licence in order to build Mason-Dixon Downs. LeVan’s vision would be situated on a 700-acre property that is located just over three miles from Gettysburg National Military Park.
“We have an opportunity to do something special here in Adams County,” he said at the time.
After the last week’s presentation was completed, the township supervisors voted unanimously to refer consideration for re-zoning of the proposed site to the state planning commission.
(With files from Hanover Evening Sun)