Wilton Rancheria considers a second location for potential casino

Monday, February 1, 2016

A view of the mall site in Elk Grove, California, that's under consideration as a casino for the Wilton Rancheria. Photo from Wilton EIS

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The Wilton Rancheria is considering two different sites for a casino in northern California.

The tribe's main focus has been a 282-acre site along a major highway north of Galt. But a 28-acre property in Elk Grove is also drawing attention.

"It’s a very viable alternative, for sure," Chairman Raymond Hitchcock told The Sacramento Bee.

The Elk Grove site is seen as more conducive to gaming because it would be located next to a half-completed mall that could be turned into an outlet center. The area is already zoned for commercial development.

Residents at a public meeting hosted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, on the other hand, voiced concerns about Galt due to the more rural character of that area. Both sites are being considered in the draft environmental impact statement for the tribe's land-into-trust application.

Comments are being accepted through February 12.

Get the Story:
Tribal casino proposed at Elk Grove’s ‘ghost mall’ site (The Sacramento Bee 1/31)
Casino resort complex planned near Galt – or maybe Elk Grove (The Central Valley Business Times 1/31)
Possible Indian casino-hotel sites discussed at Galt meeting (The Sacramento Bee 1/30)
Galt residents express mixed emotions over proposed casino (KCRA 1/29)
Proposed Indian Casino Prompts Criticism From Galt Residents (Fox40 1/29)
Proposed Indian Casino Near Galt Drawing Criticism From Residents (CBS 1/29) $P Federal Register Notices:
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Wilton Rancheria Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, Sacramento County, California (December 29, 2015)
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Wilton Rancheria Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, Sacramento County, California (December 4, 2013 Related Stories:
Wilton Rancheria ready for BIA public hearing on gaming proposal (1/27)
Wilton Rancheria anticipates lengthy process for gaming project (01/13)
Wilton Rancheria sees BIA movement on long-awaited casino bid (01/04)
Wilton Rancheria at impasse with city over stalled casino bid (10/29)
Wilton Rancheria still waiting for BIA movement on gaming plan (02/27)