reintroduce their gaming bills<\/a> in January when the Virginia General Assembly convenes.<\/p>\nMarsden and Williams have fielded interest from Comstock Companies regarding a casino. The Reston-based mixed-use real estate developer is determining how to redevelop several former auto dealerships on Chain Bridge Rd. in Tysons, and a casino has been floated.<\/p>\n
Some local officials aren’t on board. That group includes Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn (D), John Farrell, president of the Reston Association Board of Directors, and Lynne Mulston, president of the Reston Citizens Association.<\/p>\n
Alcorn recently asked the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for answers to specific concerns he and many community members have regarding state efforts to allow a casino in the county. Most important is whether county leaders believe they have the authority to singlehandedly place a casino referendum before voters.<\/p>\n
Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill told Alcorn this week, as first reported by Patch<\/i>, that the county indeed is of the legal understanding that a casino could be classified as “public entertainment” and be allowed in commercial retail areas without rezoning.<\/p>\n\nUnder this determination, a casino would be permitted in those specific districts with Board of Supervisors approval,”<\/strong> Hill explained.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nUnder the current Virginia gaming law, Hill added that a hypothetical referendum would pinpoint a single location for the casino, not numerous possible sites. The county executive said if the General Assembly amends the law to allow Tysons to consider a casino, further amendments could be made to allow a referendum to include multiple locations.<\/p>\n
“Reston Association assures its membership that it is committed to opposing the establishment of a casino,” Farrell said in response to Hill. “We are aware of no location in Reston which has been approved as a site for ‘public entertainment’ and find Mr. Hill’s statement baffling.”<\/p>\n
Petersburg Remains Silent<\/b><\/h2>\n After Richmonders first voted “No” to their casino during the November 2021 election, officials in nearby Petersburg asked state lawmakers to relocate the capital city’s gaming privilege roughly 20 miles south. State Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Petersburg) led that fight, though his bill ultimately stalled.<\/p>\n
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Morrissey lured in Baltimore-based Cordish Companies to pitch a $1.4 billion integrated resort casino to be built in numerous phases over several years in Petersburg. Morrissey was defeated<\/a> in his Democratic primary in June. He will exit the state Senate on Jan. 10, 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nPetersburg officials haven’t yet said if they will resume their push to acquire a casino prospect. Petersburg Mayor Samuel Parham said last year that a casino could “transform the city.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill thinks a casino could operate in his county without zoning changes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":299715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,61],"tags":[88836,13363,84697,83326,82130,88324,81995],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Richmond Casino Defeat Has Virginia Cities Jockeying for Gaming<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n