Zoning Bylaw Subcommittee Weighs Potential Zoning Changes For Slots Parlor

The Planning Board Zoning Bylaw Subcommittee met Tuesday night with representatives from Penn National Gaming to discuss several proposed changes to the Tewksbury zoning bylaw that would accommodate a slots parlor at 300 Ames Pond Drive. 

Three proposed changes to the bylaw were discussed, the first seeking to redefine areas zoned for indoor commercial recreation to include gaming establishments.

Currently land zoned for indoor commercial recreation includes theaters, concert halls, dance halls, skating rinks, bowling alleys, health clubs and dance studios. 

Penn National would then have to seek a special permit to develop an indoor commercial recreation facility in the office research district at 300 Ames Pond Drive.

The second proposal would allow a gaming facility to operate at Ames Pond Drive within the office research district by special permit. 

The third proposal would add a new overlay district to provide for the controlled development and utilization of those portions of land adjacent to Ames Pond.

The overlay district would be superimposed on properties abutting Ames Pond that are in the office research district, and would allow for uses permitted in the office research district as well as for a gaming establishment by special permit. 

Planning Board Vice Chair David Plunkett said he did not feel the first proposal was narrow enough in scope.

"It should be more narrow in structure to focus on the ultimate intended use of the land," Plunkett said. 

Even though there is only allowance for one slots parlor in the state, Plunkett said with the first proposal he could see resident concern that all land zoned for indoor commercial recreation could accommodate a gaming facility. 

Planning Board Clerk Nancy Reed said she agreed with Plunkett, and said she preferred the second and third proposal to the first because they were more specific to the property at Ames Pond. 

"We need to make sure we define exactly what we want to do and not go into other areas," Reed said. 

Planning Board member Stephen Johnson said the board has established overlay districts in the past for various reasons.

"It's an unreasonable claim that we're trying to spot zone something when we've done this around town in different areas for different reasons," Johnson said. 

Representatives from Penn National said they were open to the proposal of an overlay district to accommodate a slots parlor at 300 Ames Pond Drive. 
 
The Zoning Bylaw Subcommittee will meet with representatives from Penn National again next week to continue discussing the different proposed changes to the zoning bylaw.

Director of Community Development Steven Sadwick asked Penn National to come back with general regulations for parking and loading requirements, signs and environmental performance standards to be included under the overlay district proposal.

Penn National will eventually present the proposed zoning bylaw amendment to a Special Town Meeting on Aug. 20 where residents will vote to approve or deny the amendment.