Saugus rejected for surrounding community label

SAUGUS – Saugus lost its appeal to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to be designated a surrounding community of the Wynn Resorts casino project proposed for Everett.This was the second and final time the town was denied the designation from Wynn. After Wynn officials left them out of the community agreement, the town appealed the decision and was denied. After appealing to the commission in February, Town Manager Scott Crabtree said the town received official word Tuesday that the town was again denied.Crabtree said he was disappointed in the decision, especially after the commission?s own traffic expert reported that the casino would add 183 cars on Route 1 at peak traffic hours on a Friday. At the time of the appeal in February, Crabtree said that with Saugus as a connector to “all points north” and less than five miles away from the proposed site, the town would experience obvious effects in public safety and traffic, as well as a possible loss of business at Route 1 eateries and an increase in the community?s gambling addiction rates.?For whatever reason, it?s clear they did not take into account the information presented to them on the impact on Saugus,” said Crabtree.Crabtree said Saugus would continue to work with Wynn representatives.?We?ll look to see what our options are,” he said.Saugus has already been designated a surrounding community by the Mohegan Sun project proposed for Revere, which Crabtree said would result in financial compensation for its effects on Saugus.