Irving officials recommend rezoning land for proposed resort and casino after hours of heated debate with residents
A resort and casino is one step closer to opening in North Texas.
A proposal to build a multi-billion-dollar destination resort and casino in Irving sparked heated debate at a public meeting Tuesday night. The project, which some residents oppose, would require a change in Texas law before moving forward.
The Irving Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5 to 4 to recommend rezoning the land to the Irving City Council.
"We have been presented with a unique opportunity, and I believe we should welcome this proposal, as it would put us back on the map," said Commissioner Gerald Sanguino.
The development is planned at a site near State Highway 114, Loop 12, and Spur 482—close to where Texas Stadium once stood. The Las Vegas Sands Corporation owns the land, but it needed to be rezoned before construction could begin.
Now that the commission voted to recommend rezoning, the city council will take up the issue during its meeting on Thursday.
Public comments stretched into the early hours of Tuesday morning, with some residents voicing strong objections and others supporting the economic potential of the project. Despite the discussion, any recommendation made Monday night will still require approval from the Irving City Council on Thursday.
The last vote on the agenda took place at 2:30 a.m. because there was so much public comment.
The vast majority of neighbors at the meeting were against any kind of resort and casino, and they made their voices heard.
"How many of you are for the casino? No? How many of you are against the casino? Let's hear it, come on!" one Irving resident said during the meeting.
Even if city leaders sign off, the project faces a larger hurdle.
Gambling is currently illegal in Texas, meaning lawmakers would need to change state law before voters could weigh in on a constitutional amendment to legalize it.
The Sands Corporation said even if all that happened, the project could still be five to seven years away.
