The Town of Union Board has officially approved a resolution to support the planned Traditions Resort & Casino. The $150 million facility saw the board’s resolution pass 4-0 with all four councilmen voting in favor of the casino and Town Supervisor Rose Sotak abstaining. The plan calls for a facility with 1,200 slot machines, 50 gambling tables, and an additional 160 hotel rooms being built off Watson Boulevard in the Town of Union. After the Wilmot group in Seneca County saw the Town of Tyre pass a resolution in favor of their casino and Tioga Downs in Nichols obtained multiple stamps of approval from local municipalities, it was just Traditions that was without a resolution from the town in which it planned to build a casino. Prior to the passing of the resolution, the Town of Union Board heard close to two hours of comments from residents on the casino proposal and nearby zoning at the meeting last night. Those speaking against the casino proposal brought up the issue of traffic congestion and a decline in nearby property values. Others voiced their support over the idea of more jobs coming to the community. The next step for all three Southern Tier groups looking to obtain the casino license is submitting an application by June 30th, with a license expected to be issued in the fall.
