Municipality of Chatham-Kent

Community Development

Planning Services

To: Mayor and Members of Council

From: Bruce McAllister, MCIP, RPP Director, Planning Services

Date: April 17, 2018

Subject: Application for Site Plan Control PL201800032 – Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited

615 Richmond Street, Chatham (City) ______________________________________________________________________

Recommendation

It is recommended that:

1. Council pass the following resolution:

Whereas the Municipality of Chatham-Kent is already the current host of an existing slots facility within its jurisdiction;

And whereas the Municipality of Chatham-Kent has already passed a resolution in 2012 and complied with Ontario Regulation 81-12 of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act;

Be it further resolved that the Municipality of Chatham-Kent again fully endorse the location of a new casino style gaming facility within the community which includes, but is not limited to, a wide variety of entertainment options such as sport games, horse race betting, charitable gaming, electronic gaming devices and live table games.

2. Site Plan Control application File D-11C/04/18/ G, to permit the construction of 4207 sq. m (45,280 sq. ft.) gaming facility (casino) including two restaurants and a patio, located at 615 Richmond Street, as shown on the site plan drawing, prepared by Cumulus Architects Inc. and Nicholson Sheffeld Architects Inc., and dated April 17, 2018, be approved, subject to the following conditions:

a) that the site plan agreement be executed;

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited PL201800032

2

b) that the applicant convey an approximately 1.5 m road widening along the Keil Drive South frontage of the parcel, to the satisfaction of the Municipality and free of charge and clear of all encumbrances;

c) that the applicant convey an approximately 3.0 m daylight corner along the

south property line from the current daylight corner to the south intersect point of the 1.5 m road widening and the current daylight triangle, to the satisfaction of the Municipality and free of charge and clear of all encumbrances; and

d) that all accesses and parking on the subject property and the adjacent

properties, as shown on the site plan, be designed and configured to the satisfaction of the Municipality.

Background

The subject lands are located at the northeast intersection of Richmond Street and Keil Drive South, in the Community of Chatham (City) (Roll No. 3650 420 022 19900). The lands are approximately 2.3 ha (5.68 ac.) in area and contains a small office building. The lands are zoned Urban Commercial (Highway Commercial First), UC(HC1) and designated Highway Commercial in the Chatham-Kent Official Plan.

The applicant, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited, is proposing to construct a 4207 sq. m (45,280 sq. ft.) gaming facility (casino style) including two restaurants and a patio, as shown on the site plan attached as Appendix C. Gateway is one of the largest gaming and entertainment companies in Canada and currently operates in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. In March, Gateway announced it expects to invest $36 million into a new Cascades branded casino at 615 Richmond Street in Chatham and create up to 200 new jobs in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. The proposed new casino would feature over 300 slots and 10 table games, and Gateway’s signature restaurant brands MATCH Eatery & Public House and The Buffet. It is planned that the new casino will open mid-2019. Under the current Site Plan Control By-law No. 148-2016, this proposal requires site plan approval including the execution of an agreement.

Furthermore, in August 2012, in accordance with Ontario Regulation 81-12 of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act, Council passed the following resolution:

Whereas the OLG has announced changes in the location and operation of gambling facilities in Ontario and the closing of many locations;

And whereas if a municipality supports a gaming facility within its boundaries then it is to advise the Province/OLG by September;

And whereas our experience with slot machine operations has provided revenue to Chatham-Kent;

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited PL201800032

3

Therefore, it is moved that the Council declare that it supports the location of a gaming facility within Chatham-Kent and that the Mayor be directed to write a letter to the appropriate authority advising of Council’s motion supporting such a facility being located in Chatham-Kent.

Further to this, in support of this specific proposal, the OLG has requested that Council pass the resolution:

Whereas the municipality of Chatham Kent is already the current host of an existing slots facility within its jurisdiction;

And whereas the municipality of Chatham Kent has already passed a resolution in 2012 and complied with Ontario Regulation 81-12 of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act;

Be it further resolved that the Municipality of Chatham Kent again fully endorse the location of a new casino style gaming facility within the community which includes, but is not limited to, a wide variety of entertainment options such as sport games, horse race betting, charitable gaming, electronic gaming devices and live table games.

Comments

Provincial Policy Statement

The proposal is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). Specifically, the PPS encourages the redevelopment of previously developed underutilized land within existing settlement areas.

Official Plan

The property is designated Highway Commercial Area, which permits commercial recreational facilities, such as a casino. Specifically, the policies read as follows:

B.2.8.2 The Highway Commercial Area is intended for a specific range of commercial uses that cater to the needs of the travelling public, which will be developed on full municipal services.

B.2.8.3 Permitted uses in the Highway Commercial Area will include restaurants, financial institutions, service commercial uses, automobile-oriented uses such as vehicle sales, service and gas bars with convenience retail, commercial recreational facilities, hotels, motels, conference facilities, meeting/banquet facilities, entertainment uses excluding a cinema, public and private clubs and police, fire or ambulance facilities, as more specifically defined in the Zoning By-law.

In support of the site plan application, the applicant has also submitted a number of supporting studies and technical documents, which have been reviewed and accepted by the Municipality:

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited PL201800032

4

a) Detailed site plan drawing package b) Traffic Impact Study c) Servicing brief d) Detailed Stormwater Management Report e) Vibration study (due to proximity to the railway)

Recommendations from the Traffic Impact Study have been incorporated into the design of the site. With regard to parking, the site plan proposes a parking supply of 345 standard parking spaces, 10 barrier-free parking spaces and 7 coach parking spaces. Based on the casino parking generation surveys of other similar facilities, this will provide enough spaces to accommodate the peak demand likely to be experienced at the Chatham casino. In addition to this, there are permanent agreements in place for the purposes of shared storm and drainage, ingress and egress and passage of vehicles and use of and access to the parking lot spaces between the subject property, the existing plaza property, the existing hotel property and the convention centre property.

The proposal conforms to the Official Plan.

Zoning By-law

Similar to the Official Plan, the subject property is zoned “UC(HC1), Highway Commercial First Density”, which permits a Commercial Entertainment and Recreational Establishment.

To accommodate the proposal, a Minor Variance application (File A-10/18) was granted by the Committee of Adjustment on March 22, 2018 to grant relief from the Chatham-Kent Zoning By-law No.216-2009, as amended, Section 5.10.2 (b), Rear Yard Depth Minimum, to reduce the rear yard setback from 7.62 m (25 ft.) to 0 m (0 ft.) (the yard between the casino and the hotel).

The site plan complies with all other regulations of the Zoning By-law, including those established by the minor variance.

Conclusion

The application is being recommended for approval, subject to the conditions listed in the Recommendation section.

Areas of Strategic Focus and Critical Success Factors

The recommendation in this report supports the following areas of strategic focus:

Economic Prosperity:

Chatham-Kent is an innovative and thriving community with a diversified economy

A Healthy and Safe Community:

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited PL201800032

5

Chatham-Kent is a healthy and safe community with sustainable population growth

People and Culture:

Chatham-Kent is recognized as a culturally vibrant, dynamic, and creative community

Environmental Sustainability:

Chatham-Kent is a community that is environmentally sustainable and promotes stewardship of our natural resources

The recommendation in this report supports the following critical success factors:

Financial Sustainability:

The Corporation of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent is financially sustainable

Open, Transparent and Effective Governance:

The Corporation of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent is open, transparent and effectively governed with efficient and bold, visionary leadership

Has the potential to support all areas of strategic focus & critical success factors

Neutral issues (does not support negatively or positively)

Consultation

Internal

Technical Advisory Committee

The Technical Advisory Committee supports the application.

Infrastructure and Engineering Services (IES)

A 1.5 m road widening along the Keil Drive South frontage of the parcel, shown on Appendix B, is required as a condition of approval, to the satisfaction of the Municipality.

A 3.0 m daylight triangle along the south property line from the current daylight triangle to the south intersect point of the 1.5 m road widening and the current daylight triangle, shown on Appendix B, is required as a condition of approval, to the satisfaction of the Municipality.

Upon review of the Traffic Impact Study, IES has requested that the accesses and parking layout be designed and configured as shown on the Site Plan attached as Appendix C, to the satisfaction of the Municipality.

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited PL201800032

6

Financial Implications

There are no financial implications resulting from the recommendation.

Prepared by: Reviewed by:

____________________________ __________________________ Bruce McAllister, MCIP, RPP John Norton, General Manager Director, Planning Services Community Development

Attachments: Appendix A – Key Map Appendix B – Road Widening and Daylight Triangle Sketch Appendix C – Site Plan

P:\RTC\Community Development\2018\Planning Services\Apr 23-18 Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited Report.docx

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited PL201800032

7

Appendix A – Key Map

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited PL201800032

8

Appendix B – Road Widening and Daylight Corner Sketch

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited PL201800032

9

Appendix C – Site Plan