Mashpee Wampanoags reveal scaled-back casino plan
Preliminary plans for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's proposed casino show a scaled-back project from the towering buildings many residents have feared.
The casino's footprint would be about 400 feet by 600 feet and would be three to four stories high, and an adjoining 1,000 room hotel, which would be 15 to 18 stories high, would be about 900 feet from Rte. 44.
The preliminary plans show a four-lane entrance into the site from Rte. 44.
In August, when tribal chairman Shawn W. Hendricks, Sr., submitted the land-into-trust application to the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, he hoped to break ground on the project in 18 months. Before that, the bureau would have to approve the application.
The first public hearing on the application is Tuesday, March 25.
To open a class 3 casino - which would include table games - the tribe would have to negotiate a compact with the Massachusetts governor, which would then be subject to approval by the legislature. But the tribe says it plans to open a class 2 casino, which would have bingo-style slot machines, if that agreement can't be reached.
"There's no water park in the preliminary plans, but it's not off the table," said Hendricks. He added that the name of the casino is still under discussion.
"It's exciting. The casino is a tool to fund health, education and housing needs of the tribe," he said.
Edward Ionata, an engineer with Braintree firm of Tetra Tech Rizzo, which designed the project, said the casino and adjacent hotel were designed like a shopping mall.
Rte. 44 would be reconfigured to have four lanes that are grade separated. According to the site plans, the only entrance to the casino is from Rte. 44, but Ionata said there could be additional entrances at the rear for emergency use only.
Ionata described the entrance as similar to the one at Logan Airport in Boston.
"There's ramps on each side, over and under passes, no stops to the flow of traffic," he said. The goal is to get traffic in and out of the casino, while keeping it off local roads. "We've made it difficult or impossible for people to take short cuts to reach the casino," Ionata said.
The good news for residents along Thompson Street is that their homes will overlook an 18-hole golf course, with the fairway visible from hole 14. The golf course is planned as phase 2 of the project, Ionata said.
Thompson Street homes will be protected from flying golf balls by fencing and trees, Ionata said. He said wetlands have been preserved, many serving as water hazards for the golf course.
"Hole 8 tees off over wetlands onto the fairway," Ionata said.
The multiple-level parking garage will cut down on lighting issues, Ionata said.
"Parking inside a garage cuts the amount of light," Ionata explained. There are six to seven levels planned, with more under the casino. Ionata said the garage will hold 6,000 cars.
As early as June of 2007 Brian P. Giovanoni raised an alarm about traffic, the size of the casino and impacts to real estate values. Giovanoni, who has been involved with the project for almost a year, served on two casino committees, currently the chair of one, the Resort Advisory Committee, said "I've had these issues since back in June. It sounds like they've addressed them."
Giovanoni said real estates values for homes along Thompson Street could rise with a golf course buffering the residents from the site.
"The use of a garage limits the sprawl and light issues," Giovanoni said, noting environmental concerns are also addressed by "keeping the site tight." He said it preserves more open space, "allowing wildlife to roam."
Giovanoni said his committee has heard concerns about sky scrapers blinding the night sky, by comparison the actual the project as designed presents "pretty minimal" impacts.
The four-lane, grade-separated highway will keep traffic flowing and the single entrance keeps traffic out of the neighborhoods, Giovanoni said.
The plans will be available at the Bureau of Indian Affairs March 25 scooping session at the Middleboro high school.