The Hastings, Nebraska Planning Commission met on October 18 and gave approval to a revised plan for a proposed horse racetrack and casino, on 136 acres northwest of U.S. Highway 281 and 42nd Street. The planning commission voted 7-2 on one measure and 8-1 on the other.
The prior plan was shot down by a 4-3 vote in February, both on a rezone and conditional use permit (CUP). The city council then voted a month later 4-4 on the rezone and CUP. A supermajority of six votes was needed for the measure to pass.
This time, Prairie Thunder Hastings LLC, along with West Fork Inc. and Gremco Inc., were able to present a more palatable project to the commission.
In the newer version, dropping the land that needs to be rezoned from 50 to 38 acres and moving the racetrack and casino to the middle of the property were adjustments made by the group.
Legal Counsel Brian Jorde, who is representing the developer, told a local television news station that the compromise should benefit everyone.
“The overall property is about 155 acres so there is going to be opportunities to work with local developers to develop whatever the economy and city need outside of just the casino and racetrack and we are looking forward to new commercial and residential ventures,” Jorde said.
In addition to the racetrack and casino, two additional phases would call for residential lots on the northern part of the property.
Next, a hotel would be developed immediately to the west of the casino and then office/retail space along the Expressway in the northeastern portion of the property.
There are 10 existing residences that share a property line with the project. Developers told the planning commission that it will not affect those houses and that the rezone will be an “impetus and springboard for positive developmental growth and business activity in the future.”
