Sonoma County - Graton Rancheria Close To Agreement

Another example of equilibrium being created between local governments and sovereign gaming tribes is in the works up in Sonoma County.

Sonoma County supervisors and the Graton Indian tribe are close to an agreement that will prohibit the tribe from building a second casino and puts any other developments under county planning review.

The Graton have already taken land into trust to build a casino but this agreement, as part of the mitigation process, will essentially prevent the tribe from taking any more land into trust without proposed projects being first approved by the county.

"It applies to future projects, independent of the current casino and hotel project," said Jeffrey Brax, deputy county counsel. "If they do build that project, they will start making money and spending it on other things. It is intended to get a handle on future development."

Brax said any subsequent projects proposed by the tribe would be subject to an environmental review process similar to that for non-tribal developments and would be consistent with county land-use regulations. Those projects could be on the current site or anywhere else the tribe might decide to develop, he said.

Brax also said the proposed agreement does not authorize the current casino project next door to Rohnert Park.

County supervisors have repeatedly said they remain opposed to development of the site as a casino, but they have acknowledged there's been little that could be done in opposition because the 2000 federal law mandated federal acceptance of the trust.

Source:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080721/NEWS/807210304&title=County__Graton_tribe_deal_on_future_growth