It looks as though Langley Township is picking up where Surrey left off.
Surrey just voted down a casino proposal last weekend in a marathon session with mayor Dianne Watts breaking the tie and saying no.
Today, it looks as though the casino may have a new home.
After Surrey city council rejected a proposal to build a 60,000-square-foot casino in its municipality, the BC lottery corporation is pushing on to look for a new location, and it’s expressed an interest in areas along Delta and Langley.
“As far as anybody who wanted to relocate or bring another proposal in, the Township of Langley council would certainly consider it,” says mayor Jack Froese. “How serious we are? Well, I am not knocking down any doors.”
BCLC has expressed interest in areas more in the south end of municipalities.
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For the Township of Langley, the mayor says that’s a no-go.
“South Langley is primary agriculture and residential…I really don’t see putting a gaming center or casino in that area,” says Froese.
The mayor says one spot could be by the Langley Events Centre. The Township owns a couple of acres of property adjacent to it, but a gaming facility for bingo and slot machines is nearby.
The events centre also holds the office of Rich Coleman, the minister responsible for gambling.
The mayor says his first choice would be the location on 200th Street near Highway One. It’s an area already set up for commercial use and there’s existing vacant property.
Mayor Froese says BCLC has not contacted him and if they did express interest, his Township would go through the same public consultation process as Surrey.
BCLC hopes to narrow a location by spring.
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