Seminole Tribe expansion site adjacent to casino in Coconut Creek, Florida. Image from semnole Fee-to-Trust Project
Jim Shore, a member of the Seminole Tribe who serves as general counsel, explains land-into-trust application for site next to Seminole Coconut Creek Casino:
At the federal level, the Seminole Tribe has petitioned the U.S. Department of the Interior to take 47 acres of Coconut Creek land that the Tribe already owns into trust. The additional land is adjacent to the Tribe's existing Trust land, where the Tribe operates a casino. Part of that additional land contains the parking garage and other surface parking lots, which would also be available for use by future nearby retail developments in Coconut Creek. Like existing Seminole reservations, the land will be held in trust for use by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The Tribe wants to manage all of its Coconut Creek property as one unit. It also seeks the sovereign right to economic independence and the self-governing of its land. This is not about expanding the casino. In fact, no gaming will take place on any of the additional trust land. Although the Tribe's land to trust application has been subjected to a rigorous multi-year review process, some in Palm Beach County are pushing for yet another review of the Seminole Tribe's trust application. They are pointing to the threat of increased traffic, despite the fact the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek is more than four miles from the border of Palm Beach County, and traffic studies indicate that vehicles heading to and from the casino account for less than one percent of the traffic capacity of any Palm Beach County roadway.Get the Story:
Jim Shore: Seminole casino proves to be good neighbor (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 9/8) Related Stories:
Seminole Tribe faces more scrutiny on land adjacent to casino (07/11)
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