Rancho planners approve casino and restaurant

By Megan Hansen
CNS Staff Writer

Rancho Cordova will soon be home to a new 24-hour casino and late-night restaurant, but not everybody is happy about it.

The Planning Commission voted 4-1 Thursday night to approve a conditional use permit for the Cordova Casino and Restaurant. The new casino will inhabit an existing building at 2801 Prospect Park Drive, north of White Rock Road near Highway 50.

Casino owners plan to open the business within six months. The casino will offer nine card tables 24 hours a day and an adjoining family-oriented restaurant will operate from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. daily.

Brian Sobel, a consultant for Cordova Casino and Restaurant, said the owners are pleased with the commission’s decision.

“We’re very excited about coming to Rancho Cordova,” Sobel said. “We’re thrilled with the location and we believe we can make a material difference in the area and come up with an operation you can be proud of.”

Rancho Cordova City Manager Ted Gaebler said he supports the permit and told the commissioners that the business will be a good addition to Rancho Cordova.

“The prospect of adding a family friendly restaurant on this side of the freeway is great,” Gaebler said. “The 30,000 workers in this area will have a place to eat here.”

But not everyone is excited about the new business. Planning Commissioner Matthew Cummings voted against the conditional use permit.

“For me it’s location. We need to provide places along the freeway that identify what Rancho Cordova represents,” Cummings said. “There’s already a Hooter’s across the freeway and it concerns me now that there’s going to be a casino on the other side. In my mind it’s not the best image to convey.”

In a letter to the Planning Commission, Rancho Cordova Chief of Police Reuben Meeks expressed concerns about security and the need for increased police surveillance at the casino.

Meeks could not be reached for comment.

According to the staff report for the use permit, the police department estimated the new casino would require additional patrol staffing, incurring more cost to the city.

Principal Planner Bill Campbell said casino owners hammered out an agreement with city officials to help pay for police services.

Under the agreement, Cordova Casino and Restaurant will pay the city a minimum of $900 per year for additional police services. The agreement will go into effect after the business has been operating for one year.

“The agreement…will help offset the increased costs of police protection,” Campbell said.

Planning Commissioners expressed concern about the nature of the business, which combines a card room and family-oriented restaurant.

Sobel and architect Allan Hoshida said the restaurant and bar will be separate from the casino once the building is remodeled, much like the owners’ other business, The 101 Casino in Petaluma.

“The restaurant is a completely separate operation,” Sobel said. “Prices will be kept low to attract people, and families dine at the 101 Casino every day.”

Randy Yaple, a consultant on behalf of The 101 Casino, said the restaurant is the most important aspect of the business.

“We can’t survive without the restaurant,” Yaple said. “We don’t make that much on card games.”

Cummings said he doesn’t think the casino needs to be open 24 hours if the card games don’t generate much revenue.

“Why would there be gambling after the restaurant and bar close? It seems unnecessary to have the casino be open 24 hours a day,” Cummings said.

Though the business may need increased police surveillance, Campbell said it will help Rancho Cordova.

“The property tax from the minor improvements and the increased sales tax will be of financial asset to the city,” Campbell said.

No one from the community commented at the meeting.