Wilton Rancheria continues to make progress on casino project

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Artist's rendering of the Wilton Rancheria's resort project in Elk Grove, Caifornia. Image by Wilton Rancheria

The Wilton Rancheria continues to make progress on its proposed casino in northern California.

The city council in Elk Grove last month approved a memorandum of understanding in which the tribe will share nearly $132 million over 20 years. The agreement also requires the tribe to address traffic, public safety and other impacts of the $400 million project.

The city and the tribe have since updated the agreement to address the tribe's land-into-trust application. The tribe has an option to buy land from a developer of an outlet mall where the casino would be located.

The tribe believes the change will improve its chances of winning approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The application covers about 36 acres.

"The lack of encumbrances make it easier to go through the process to get land in the trust,” Chairman Raymond “Chuckie” Hitchcock told The Elk Grove Citizen.

The BIA published the draft environmental impact statement in December 2015. A final version would need to be issued before a record of decision can be made on the project.

The tribe was restored to federal recognition in 2009.

Read More on the Story:
Tribe moves a step forward in casino project (The Elk Grove Citizen 10/19)
City Council approves $132 million agreement for proposed Elk Grove casino (The Elk Grove Citizen 10/5) $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)

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