The City of Vaughan has announced the conditions which must be met in order for a casino to be built within its borders.
An article by Your York Region has quoted Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua as saying that the conditions are "very firm."
There are 21 terms and conditions in total, which include that the building must reach LEED gold certification; that the gaming floor be a maximum size of 15 per cent of the total square footage; and that there be a responsible gaming support centre located on site.
Other terms and conditions include:
- The casino will only be considered for a specific geographic area that could include a portion of the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre near Hwy. 7 and Jane Street or near the Hwy. 407 subway station on land south of Hwy. 407, just east of Hwy. 400;
- That parking be in structures and underground, not on surface lots;
- That the development be consistent with the city’s official plan and be consistent with Vaughan’s policies and guidelines respecting planning, development and design and that a casino will have an urban form designed to fit into a local context and;
- That the operator will develop an international marketing plan and demonstrate how the facility will attract tourists nationally and internationally.
The Woodbine Entertainment Group has stated that casino expansion in Vaughan or other neighbouring municipalities could threaten the future of Woodbine Racetrack.
“Our greatest fear and our greatest threat, and frankly the city’s greatest threat, is that a casino will get built in Vaughan or Markham or Mississauga or Brampton or one of those municipalities,” WEG CEO Nick Eaves has said. “If that were to happen and Woodbine wasn’t able to expand (to a full casino), we’re...very fearful for what that would mean to our business.”
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford announced earlier this month that he plans to introduce a motion which would see City Council revisit the idea of allowing Woodbine Racetrack to expand to a full casino.
(With files from Your York Region)