Locals want casino to follow Vision Plan

In addition to the county’s plans for redeveloping Nassau Colisuem, Mangano announced in May that he would be teaming with Sens. Dean Skelos (R-NY) and Jack Martins (R-Elmont) to pursue a gaming casino at Belmont Park, developed by the Shinnecock Indian Nation. Once approved by federal and state officials, Mangano said, he believes the casino will create thousands of additional local jobs.

Following the county’s announcement of plans for a casino at Belmont, Elmont residents and activists became concerned that the county’s casino plan might not follow the Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development’s Community Vision Plan — established nearly seven years ago.

The plan emphasizes development on Belmont Park’s deteriorating south parking lot, including a soccer facility, shopping area and restaurants. The plan was developed after the Coalition conducted a blight study, surveying the community of Elmont, to see what areas residents were most concerned about, and garnered wide support from community residents. It was also strongly supported by former Assemblyman Tom Alfano.

Currently, the south lot is used by the New York Racing Association for rented concerts and car shows.

Sandra Smith, chair of the Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development, and one the key players in creating the Community Vision Plan, said that she supports the casino, and expects it to create thousands of jobs for the community. However, she added, it is important for Belmont Park’s potential casino development to follow the Vision Plan.

“We went through all of the effort of trying to get the community’s opinion,” Smith explained. “The whole community being on board helps everything move faster.”

At the Elmont Chamber of Commerce’s recent Economic Development Forum, Smith said, “The approvals for a casino will take time and we will support all the efforts being made to make the casino a reality at Belmont. For now, we have to continue our work and develop the south lot at Belmont, and make it our reality.”

Luckily, Martins and Skelos are on board with Elmont’s plan.

Martins said that he supports the efforts by many Elmont residents to focus on Belmont Park’s south lot, and he and Skelos have both expressed support for the Elmont Community Vision Plan. “We have a lot of great ideas for the south lot, and we have to continue with that work while the casino plan is being developed and the approvals are being sought,” Martins said at the Economic Development Forum. “We can’t sit still. Elmont deserves nothing but the best, and we have to continue to work hard on the plan we have in place.”

Muzzio Tallini, a Franklin Square resident and member of Elmont’s Coalition for Sustainable Devlopment, said he’s looking forward to working with both Skelos and Martins to enact the major reforms specified in the Vision Plan, “specifically rezoning Hempstead Turnpike, to allow residential mixed-use development.”

For now, the community is waiting to hear what will happen next. The casino plans must pass local, state and federal approval before development can begin.

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