By Nathan Mayberg
KIAMESHA LAKE — February 27, 2004 – A public hearing on the casino plans for the old Concord Resort brought forth no public comment on Wednesday night at the Town of Thompson Planning Board meeting at the town hall.
Cappelli Enterprises, which manages Concord Associates, are entertaining several offers for a casino on the site of the former Concord Resort, according to general counsel William Kaplan.
Cappelli Enterprises had formerly received approval for a hotel and convention center on the site. They have now requested approval for a casino in place of the convention center. If attempts to build a casino are unsuccessful, the company would still retain its right to build a convention center.
First, the planning board will need to approve the site plan modification. The company is proposing a million-and-a-half-square-foot hotel, spa and casino. The property is situated on 163 acres.
John Collins, who works for Concord Associates, told the board that a new lane would need to be added on Route 42 running from the intersection of Anawana Lake Road to the Route 17 exit. He believed that traffic concerns would be alleviated that way. However, he did not believe a second lane was needed to run from the Route 17 exit to Concord Road.
Michael Divney, who represents Concord Associates, said the existing sewer system was adequate to handle a casino. He estimated that the hotel and casino would only use 500,000 of the 1,000,000 gallons a day the system can handle.
The company has already started work on the property. Several homes in poor condition were recently demolished, said officials.
Kaplan added that the company would be awaiting the outcome of state legislation which would legalize gambling in Sullivan, Ulster and Greene counties and the City of Buffalo. The company is currently receiving interest from several Indian tribes as well as national casino firms, he said.