The Woodlands racetrack special use permit is not expected to be at a Planning Commission meeting until 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 11, at City Hall.
According to a letter sent out by a law firm that is handling The Woodlands’ application, the meeting, which earlier was expected to be March 14, will not be until April 11.
A community meeting was held Feb. 27 at Piper Middle School on the issue of The Woodlands reopening. Plans are for The Woodlands to have slot machines.
The Woodlands effort may have opposition from Hollywood Casino. An advertisement ran Feb. 28 charging that the state might be breaching its contract with the casino if it allows slots at the Woodlands.
A bill passed the Kansas Senate last year that would increase the percentage of money that horse and dog racetracks could keep from slots, to a number comparable with the casinos.
HB 2312, allowing slots at racetracks at the same rate as at the casinos, was still in the House Calendar and Printing Committee this morning.
On March 2, the House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee held an informational hearing on “The Effects of Horse and Greyhound Tracks on Commerce in Kansas.”
Last Thursday, the Unified Government Commission held a joint meeting with the Kansas City, Kan., Planning Commission. Although The Woodlands issue was not mentioned at this meeting, a UG attorney advised the Planning Commission and UG Commission not to say that they were for or against any upcoming item in advance of the meetings. The attorney said that could be a factor in overturning their decisions in court.
For an earlier story on this issue, see https://wyandotteonline.com/the-woodlands-seeks-support-to-reopen-pari-mutuel-track/.