Many Harmony, N.H. residents voiced criticisms a few conditionally-approved charitable on line casino throughout a Wednesday public listening to earlier than town’s Planning Board.
New Hampshire state capitol constructing in Harmony, pictured above. A proposed on line casino within the metropolis is resulting in controversy. (Picture: TripAdvisor)
There are worries over the small venue’s affect on the setting, elevated visitors, and different negatives that include a brand new gaming property and associated companies, in line with the Harmony Monitor newspaper.
The 43,000 square-foot proposed venture on town’s East Aspect would come with a gaming flooring, restaurant, and bar, and finally could embrace a resort.
150 Signal Petition
An area environmental group which advocates for restricted progress, the Harmony Greenspace Coalition, gave board members a petition opposing the deliberate on line casino. There have been greater than 150 signatures on the doc.
The on line casino developer is Andy Sanborn. He’s an ex-New Hampshire state senator and owns the Harmony On line casino, an current charitable gaming venue in downtown Harmony. He’s additionally proprietor of Harmony’s Draft Sports activities Bar & Grill.
Judith Kurtz, vp of the Harmony Greenspace Coalition, introduced Planning Board members quite a few police experiences between 2018 and 2022 related to The Draft Bar & Grill.
There have been 131 police calls on the Draft in the course of the four-year interval. Some 61 have been associated to crimes or assaults, she mentioned.
Kurtz and different residents additionally fear if the on line casino and linked companies have been to fail.
This can be a short-sighted answer for bringing in new income,” Thomas Sideris advised board members. “When the novelty and the novelty wears off, what’s the Sanborn group going to do?”
Cassie Raymond moreover anxious in regards to the enhance in visitors.
“I work at home and I’m on the roads extra typically than different individuals in the neighborhood who commute to work and again,” Raymond mentioned. “I’ve issues about occasion parking letting out and the overflow of visitors onto Loudon Highway. There’s no gentle at that intersection and folks shall be taking dangerous strikes to get out of there.”
Another audio system on the assembly help the venture given the projected job progress and tax income. Some stay up for the charitable donations to authorised non-profits that shall be constructed from on line casino income.
As a charitable gaming operation, 35% of gross income from the on line casino shall be despatched to authorised charities each 10 days.
Authorities, Not Casinos Ought to Fund Non-Earnings
Although the on line casino, if authorised, shall be donating to charities, one resident beneficial that nonprofits not get funds from playing, however from metropolis and state authorities.
I’m solely upset that now we have laws that permits casinos. We’re higher than this,” Tim Robson mentioned. “We shouldn’t be funding charities and help companies that ought to be paid for by common taxes. It’s corrupting and it’s a regressive taxation system.”
Beneath present plans, the on line casino’s first part, which was given conditional approval in January, is to incorporate a 24,000 square-foot gaming room. It will have 634 seats and an 8,500 square-foot restaurant and brew-pub. The bar and eatery would be capable to seat as many as 150 visitors. A future part would come with a resort and occasion heart.
Beforehand, Planning Board members beneficial extra plantings, grasses, and timber to be positioned on the proposed on line casino grounds.
There have been so many residents wanting to talk on Wednesday that the Planning Board prolonged the general public listening to to March 15.
On the subsequent listening to, city officers will focus on entry to the on line casino advanced for emergency automobiles.
Harmony is a few 58 miles southeast of Lebanon, the place one other New Hampshire charitable on line casino has been proposed.
