Jobs, increased property values, customers for businesses, a Thruway bypass, local economic development — these propositions are but a few of the favorite things put forward by proponents of the gaming game now in play in Orange County.

While Foxwoods Resort Casino just announced it would end its license quest in Sullivan County for a proposed gambling development, Orange County has surfaced as the most preferred site for one of the four coveted NY State Gaming Commission licenses up for grabs. Final applications are due on June 30 for casinos slotted for three NY regions, according to LoHud, and include: the Catskills, Albany area, and a Southern Tier, which would cover Orange County.

The Town of Tuxedo is currently working on a Host Agreement with Genting Americas that will detail the rules of engagement between the town and casino developer. Part of the agreement would include a new Tuxedo Gaming Overlay District.

The Town of Tuxedo will hold a Special Meeting Wednesday, June 18, at 7 p.m. at George Grant Mason Elementary School’s cafeteria related to the town finalizing its Host Agreement with Genting Americas for its proposed million-square-foot resort in Sterling Forest. Genting is Malaysia-based and one of Asia’s largest casino developers.

  Rendering of Sterling Forest Resort in Tuxedo, NY

The gaming approval process for Tuxedo involves the town’s initial Letter of Support to Genting, the on-going Host Agreement that will articulate the rules of engagement between Genting and Tuxedo and that will allow Genting to finalize its application due at the end of June to the NY Gaming Commission.

The whole process is fast-tracked due to deadlines set by the NY Gaming Commission, with the proposed Sterling Forest Resorts development first outlined and presented in mid-April. Regional concerns include traffic and environmental impacts of a casino resort nestled in a commercial zone in Sterling Forest where the former Sterling Forest Gardens, Renaissance Faire and Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center are located. Part of Genting’s proposal involves contributing some $25 million dollars toward completing the NY Thruway Exit 15B just north of Tuxedo that would help funnel traffic to the resort.

The construction of Exit 15B may involve the acquisition of state park land, which would make that portion of the project extremely difficult as it would necessitate approval by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Town Councilman Gary Phelps expressed at a recent town meeting that if the Rt. 15B exit doesn’t happen, the overall project doesn’t happen.

Regional groups who are mounting opposition to the development include NY/NJ Trail Conference, the Highlands Coalition, Sterling Forest Partnership, and the Appalachian Mountain Club, according to Geoff Welch of the Sterling Forest Partnership.

Town Supervisor Mike Rost said that the town received some 262 emails from the public in response to the council’s request for public comment on the Genting development. Rost said that approximately 180 of the emails were against the project and 90 or so were for the project, according to information provided by TPFYI.com. Recent public comments to the town council related to the Genting development can be read here.

NY regions for gaming development / Courtesy of The Journal News

At Tuesday’s Special Meeting, the town’s financial consultant, Alvarez and Marsal (A&M), and gaming project attorneys from Stroock, Stroock, and Lavan, will present findings related to the Sterling Forest Resort on the town and surrounding area, including the economic, environmental and social impacts. Town of Tuxedo Supervisor Mike Rost indicated at a recent town board meeting that Tuxedo would eventually hire an engineering consultant to manage the casino development project for the town should it receive approval at the state level.

A&M is acting as the town’s Project Manager at this time on the casino proposal project while the town finalizes a Host Agreemnt. Tuxedo’s consultants and attorneys will be paid from $3 million dollars Genting Americas was directed to pay the town as part of the town’s  Letter of Support for the casino project — which was voted on at a May 12 town board meeting. The Genting money will be deposited in an escrow account and used to cover legal expenses and various studies and impact statements related to the Genting project. It’s not clear at this time whether Genting and town attorney’s finalized the escrow transaction.

Tuxedo’s Host Agreement is a necessary step for Genting to complete its gaming application and will include a new local law Gaming Overlay District that would allow for a gaming facility and related resort development within the Town.