MGM Resorts International’s Maryland casino project cleared a major regulatory hurdle last week, when the Prince George’s County Planning Board unanimously approved the detailed site plan for the project.
The next hurdle for MGM National Harbor, a $925 million mega-casino on the Potomac River in sight of Washington, D.C., will be approval by the county’s District Council, which is expected in late June or early July. The operator is planning to break ground on the 1 million-square-foot project in July.
“We’re very pleased, and it’s just one more step of getting approvals, getting building permits, getting this thing up and running in a couple years,” Arthur Horne of Shipley & Horne P.A., the local attorney representing MGM, said after the vote.
The unanimous approval came after public testimony in which some locals called the LED display boards in the design obtrusive and garish. The 21-story hotel and casino will feature five electronic screens promo5ing gaming activities at the resort, its restaurants and events at its 3,000-seat entertainment venue.
Commissioners returned mixed comments on that part of the design, with some commenting that the design is exciting.
