Nearly 100 residents gathered for District 1 Commissioner Steve Stroberger’s town hall Wednesday night to express their concerns about a proposed gaming room relocation in this district. The Board of County Commissioners is considering an ordinance change that would allow Wind Creek Hospitality to move its existing poker room at Greyhound Track in District 1’s southwest corner to a new location in the Pine Forest area near Interstate 10.
- WEAR-TV reported that Commissioner Steve Stroberger told the crowd, “We’re getting the neighbors together because they were unaware of this, and I was kind of unaware of this, too. So, I don’t want the county commissioners to make a decision on this until I get some input from the folks out here.”
However, STROBERGER IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE because he brought the proposed ordinance (Agenda Item-2 )to the board on Jan. 9. His appointee to the Planning Board, Jonathan Owens, discussed the ordinance at meetings in February and March.
Jan. 9 BCC Meeting
County Attorney Alison Rogers summarized the issue. “Under Florida law there is such a thing as a para mutuel wagering license, and there is only allowed to be one per every 100 miles within the state of Florida. We have one, it’s the former Greyhound Track.”
- The current zoning code doesn’t expressly state where pari-mutuel wagering is allowed. Some zoning categories might allow it, but it’s ambiguous. She proposes sending an ordinance to the planning board to specify which zoning categories would allow pari-mutuel wagering. The planning board would make a recommendation, followed by two public hearings to establish a new zoning designation.
Wind Creek’s attorney, Will Dunaway, argued no ordinance is needed, as many uses in Escambia County aren’t explicitly listed in the land development code.
- Dunaway requested a land verification certificate stating that pari-mutuel betting is allowed in a commercial district. The certificate would allow the license to be moved from its current location to the new property.
BCC Concerns
The commissioners, except for Stroberger, expressed concerns.
Commissioner Steven Barry:
- Prefers a site-specific approach rather than changing the entire code
- Concerned that if the contract falls through but the code is changed, the license could be moved to a less desirable location
Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger:
- Concerned about location specificity
- Mentions a previous attempt to place the facility near Pensacola Christian College, which she opposed
- Worried about inappropriate placement if this deal falls through
Commissioner Lumon May:
- Concerned about setting precedents for gaming, cannabis, and other similar businesses
However, the commissioners conceded to whatever Stroberger wanted to do. Stroberger didn’t say much or express any concerns. He asked Dunaway to present his client’s case.
- When considering options, he suggested: “Why don’t we send it back to the planning board for review? Give us some time to think about decision space.”
- At the end, he made the official motion: “I’ll make a motion that we send this para mutuel card room ordinance back to the planning board for them to review the draft” – the motion was then amended to include distance restrictions at Commissioner Barry’s suggestion.
Citizens’ Concerns
WEAR-TV reported that residents raised several concerns about the potential relocation, including increased traffic, possible rises in crime, and negative impacts on the surrounding community.
Elizabeth Lomax, a local resident, voiced her concerns about the broader societal impacts: “Anytime you bring any sort of gambling into the community, you impoverish the community, you increase homelessness. Of course, the gambling, which leads to the increase of welfare roles, you have to increase your expenses for law enforcement.”
Another resident questioned the need for security measures: “They’re talking about having to need a buffer zone and high fences. Well, why do they have to do that? Why is that such a big deal? Because it’s not family-friendly. And it’s not good for our community.”
The proposal wasn’t without supporters, however. A few residents expressed positive experiences with the current facility, with one stating, “They’re great neighbors, and they’re good for Pensacola.”
Next Steps
The ordinance will undergo its second hearing at the upcoming county commissioners meeting on March 25. Wind Creek Hospitality has not yet submitted any proposal or site plan for review.
- After the meeting, Commissioner Stroberger told Channel 3: “If they’re not for it, I’m not for it. If they think it’s a problem, then it’s a problem for me.”
It would have been nice if Stroberger had talked with his constituents in January and shared his role in bringing it to the BCC.