The Chumash tribe in California’s Santa Barbara County is provoking a lot of scrutiny and raising a lot of questions regarding its casino expansion plans. The county has begun going over the tribe’s Environmental Evaluation.
Several departments of the County of Santa Barbara have sent letters to the tribe asking to get “full access” to the expansion before and after its completion, and pointing out that a major fire in the hotel would require its entire fire department to respond. It would also increase the chances of an “airport emergency” due to increase air travel to the Santa Ynez Airport.
The Sheriff’s Department is also looking at expanding its staff to provide a 24/7 deputy at the casino.
The tribe proposes to build a 12-story hotel of 215 rooms, a conference room and restaurant plus 75,000 additional feet of gaming space, essentially doubling the casino floor, and a five-story parking structure that can accommodate 500 vehicles.
County Planning Director Glenn Russell called the tower’s height “patently inconsistent with and destructive” to the area’s character” at a Board of Supervisors meeting last week.
California Governor Jerry Brown, who rarely opposes gaming tribes’ proposals, has sent a letter to Chumash Tribal Chairman Vincent Armenta expressing concerns about the project. He has asked for an Environmental Impact Study, or EIS, which is a step above an EE.
The governor asked the state attorney general to outline the state’s problems with a 12-story casino in the rural county, specifically visual impacts, but also problems with strains on the County’s emergency services.
County officials are scheduled to meet with tribal representatives this week to discuss possible mitigation measures. The County has very little leverage, since the 1999 state tribal gaming compact gives the tribe almost total control over its casino.
