The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has issued a Notice of Intent for expansion of its Agua Caliente Casino at Ramon Road and Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage. The tribe opened the 183,000square-foot casino in April 2001 and is considering a two-phase expansion that would increase the square footage of the gaming facility and add a hotel, parking structure, meeting space and retail/commercial complex.
The Notice of Intent, dated Jan. 8, states that the tribe will prepare an environmental impact statement that will also evaluate the offreservation effects of the proposed expansion pursuant to its compact with the state.
"[The tribe] would like to know the views of interested persons,
organization and agencies as to the scope and content of the
information to be included and analyzed in the EIS," the notice reads.
"Agencies should comment on the elements of the environmental
analysis that are relevant to their interests and responsibilities in
connection with the proposed project."
The Rancho Mirage city boundary is located less than one mile to the south and west of the project site. Southern Pacific Railroad tracks pass across the northeastern comer of the site, and Interstate 10 runs immediately north.
Phase I of the expansion would occur primarily on the existing 60acre casino site. It comprises a 65,000-square-foot casino expansion, 400-room hotel, 30,000 square feet of meeting space, a 60,000square-foot showroom, a 1,200-stall parking structure and 1,000 surface parking spaces.
Phase II on approximately 40 acres across Bob Hope Drive, west of the casino, would consist of a 350,000-square-foot retail complex with surface parking and a pedestrian bridge spanning Bob Hope Drive.
The pubic is invited to submit comments until Feb. 8 to Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, 650 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262, Attention Margaret Park, AICP.
Copyright Desert Publication, Inc. and Sharon Apfelbaum Jan 18, 2005
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