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Redding City Council Discusses Rancheria Casino Expansion

Adveo Benelux
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Flickr Creative Commons

The question of whether or not to build a casino off of South Bonnyview Road and Interstate 5 in Redding was debated at the Redding City Council meeting Tuesday night.

At issue is how the proposed casino, hotel and event center would affect the community. The casino would be built by the Redding Rancheria and would also contain retail space. It would be located in an area of Churn Creek Bottom known as the “strawberry fields”.

 

 The draft Environmental Impact Report has been released by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which is the lead governmental agency in the effort. Although the project is outside of the City of Redding’s influence, Mayor Julie Winter has asked for the council’s permission to include a letter as part of the public comment on the EIR.

The letter will cite concerns like traffic, public safety, and other economic impacts the casino may have on the community. Winter is worried that the event center will be in direct competition with the Redding Civic Auditorium. 

Patrick Swearman is with a group known as “Speak Up Shasta” and has gathered over 5,000 signatures opposing the project.

“The proposed development proposes numerous risks to the Shasta County Community,” Swearman said. “It would have serious negative effects on the local fish and wildlife, and will result in costly traffic congestion, acceleration of urban sprawl, and a significant blow to Shasta County’s outdoor sports and recreation economy.”

The area is also adjacent to the site of a proposed Costco and another major grocery store. Wayne Rickart is a community consultant for the Redding Rancheria and urged the council to support the project.

“It truly takes more than government to solve the many issues that we face in this community,” Rickart said. “It up to great organizations like the Redding Rancheria and many others who have come to the assistance of Redding and Shasta County as a whole.”

Earlier in the meeting, on a separate agenda item, the council accepted a community grant from the Redding Rancheria to help pay for public safety. Comment on the draft EIR can be submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs until June 17th.