Last November, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and his administration introduced a proposal that would make it easier for any casino to be built in any of the five boroughs.

In a nutshell, the plan was for zoning processes to be shortened.

If passed, the zoning plan would allow any winning bidders for one of three downstate casino licenses to forgo the normally lengthy zoning process — the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure — and only require approval from the state and its Community Advisory Committee, according to a report in the Commercial Observer.

For this plan to go into effect, however, it has to pass muster with a variety of stakeholders, including the city’s many community boards. And while some community boards are all-aboard with the plan, such as Community Board 11 in Bensonhurst, which recently voted 20-0 (with two abstentions) in favor, not all are lining up behind the mayor.

In fact, in recent weeks, no fewer than three community boards have come out fully against the plan, according to a report in GlobeSt.com. Manhattan Community Board 6 said “nope” by a 39-1 margin. That board represents Midtown East, which is the proposed site of a casino built by the Soloviev Group. The casino would be part of a development on First Avenue between 38th and 41st Streets.

Additionally, Manhattan Community Board 4, which represents the site where Silverstein Properties wants to put a casino, voted against the city’s proposal. Lastly, Manhattan Community Board 5, which includes Times Square – and where Caesars, in partnership with Jay Z’s Roc Nation and SL Green Realty, wants to place a casino – also voted against the zoning rule changes.

Wait, there’s more

While they haven’t officially voted yet, Brooklyn’s Community Board 13 is said to oppose the plan. The board represents the neighborhood where there is a Coney Island casino plan being put forth by Thor Equities Group in partnership with Saratoga Casino Holdings, The Chickasaw Nation, and Legends Hospitality.

While the votes by the community boards will be heard, they are also not binding, as the city council will be tasked with deciding the fate of Adams’ plan. In the meantime, the New York State Gaming Commission is still in the process of answering a second round of questions from the 11 would-be casino operators. It’s expected that once those questions are answered, there will be a 30-day window for bidders to officially enter the fray.

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