The borough of Strasburg, Pennsylvania has rejected the request of the Rutter’s convenience store chain for a license to offer up to five video gaming terminals in its truck stop location there. Borough officials rejected the request citing a zoning ordinance that doesn’t permit the gaming machines to be used in a retail store.
The borough’s zoning board held a hearing on the chain’s January 21 petition, unanimously denying Rutter’s request on January 10, and releasing its decision 10 days later. The rejection message state that the zoning ordinance does not permit VGTs “as an accessory use to the retail sale of goods” or “as an accessory use to an automobile filling station.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board had conditionally approved the machines under the 2017 gaming expansion law as one of 20 locations pegged for VGTs. The law requires verification of a location under the law’s specifications for a truck stop. The Rutter’s location is a convenience store and gas station.
The zoning board’s decision said there is no provision in the law that “limits municipal zoning regulations regarding (VGTs).” Addition of the machines had been vehemently opposed by the Strasburg Borough Council, Police Chief Steve Echternach and Mayor Bruce Ryder. Ryder told the LNP newspaper in Lancaster that the machines “won’t do anything to make Strasburg a better place to live.”
Rutter’s has 30 days in which it may appeal the Strasburg rejection to the state Court of Common Pleas. Investigations concerning the other Rutter’s locations are still pending.
