Coyote Valley Band works with county to move casino to new site

Wednesday, May 31, 2017  

The Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians is moving forward with plans to relocate its casino in California.

The new site of the Coyote Valley Casino is across the street from the tribe's gas station and convenience store, The Mendocino Voice reported. Plans call for a 30,000 square-foot facility with a 101-room hotel, the paper said.

“We’re ready to pull the trigger now,” Chairman Michael Hunter told the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors at a meeting on May 16, The Ukiah Daily Journal reported.

Under its Class III gaming compact, the tribe is required to address the impacts of the development. Negotiations are underway with the county, according to news reports.

In addition to a gas station and convenience store, the Coyote Valley One Stop Shop features a small gaming room. The tribe plans to expand that facility as well, The Mendocino Voice reported.

The site of the One Stop was placed in trust back in 2012. The tribe told the Bureau of Indian Affairs that the land was going to be used for "housing and retail facilities" -- gaming wasn't mentioned -- according to the environmental assessment documents.

Normally, gaming acquisitions are subject to higher scrutiny. But since the six-acre parcel sits adjacent to the reservation, it's likely the tribe wouldn't have been required to undergo a lengthier environmental impact review.

And the tribe still has housing on the agenda. Single-family units are being planned at the current casino site, The Daily Journal reported.

Read More on the Story:
Negotiations for new casino moving forward (The Mendocino Voice 5/16)
Coyote Valley Casino expansion, housing plan taken up by county (The Ukiah Daily Journal 5/16)