Suffolk, Saugus officials discuss casino impact

SAUGUS – Suffolk Downs chief operating officer Chip Tuttle met with Saugus officials Thursday to discuss casino plans and the potential impact on the town.?We wanted to make sure the Town Manager had a full briefing on where we are in the process with our proposed development,” said Tuttle, in a phone interview. “It was more of an informational session than anything else.”Tuttle said he?s “confident” that if Suffolk Downs is granted a license from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, they can develop “a world class destination resort that would create thousands of local jobs and have a positive effect on local businesses.”?Those benefits can certainly extend to the town and the citizens of Saugus,” said Tuttle.Town Manager Scott Crabtree said he?s looking forward to working with Suffolk Downs and wants to make sure officials there are “aware and are identifying Saugus? concerns.”?One of the issues is feeling that Saugus is going to be impacted and should be considered a surrounding community from the casino,” said Crabtree. “We?re looking at the regional traffic and transportation issues ? Looking at businesses and some sort of partnership program for Saugus businesses.”Suffolk Downs officially applied for a casino license last August and according to the Gaming Commission website, the first step in the review process is expected to take until October. Phase two of the process is to be completed by January of next year with the final selection set to take place next February.Tuttle said Suffolk Downs has “operated under the premise” that it will have surrounding community agreements with Winthrop and Chelsea, and noted he has had “preliminary conversations” with Lynn.?We understand that there are other municipalities that have an interest in that and we?ve been trying to make sure we reach out and maintain a good dialogue with those municipalities,” said Tuttle.Tuttle said it?s up to the Gaming Commission to determine what makes a surrounding community.?It?s not for us to determine, but I thought the spirit of our conversations with the Town Manager today were good ?” said Tuttle. “Our dialogue with Saugus is a good one.”According to a draft regulation from the Gaming Commission, a city or town will be designated a “surrounding community” based on factors such as distance to the host community, increases in traffic, environmental impacts and “anticipated degradation of infrastructure from additional trips to and from a gaming establishment.”Gaming Commission spokesperson Elaine Driscoll said there are three ways to become a surrounding community: being identified as one by an applicant, signing an agreement with an applicant or petitioning the commission.?Essentially you would have an agreement with the applicant as to how they would address concerns relative to mitigation or impact,” said Driscoll. “It might be a financial agreement ?”Crabtree, who sent a letter to the Gaming Commission last month requesting surrounding community status, said it?s too early to say whether Saugus will be included.?Right now we just opened the door,” he said. “Everyone seems willing to discuss it and sit at the table. I?m confident the discussion will continue.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].