Opponents to a proposed casino in the Nittany Mall in Centre County continue to call on the host township to try to stop it, but the township’s lawyer says that’s not an option.
In 2017, under Pennsylvania law, municipalities had the choice to opt out of being hosts to mini-casinos. College Township did not do that — pointing to the potential economic benefits.
Now, the township’s attorney says the chance to opt out has expired. A letter from attorney Louis Glantz that’s part of the council’s Thursday meeting agenda packet also notes that the township already approved the preliminary final land development plan for the casino a developer wants to build in the mall.
Township manager Adam Brumbaugh said council has been getting a lot of correspondence about the casino and whether the township can opt out.
“As a result of all of that, staff had inquired of the township solicitor to provide an opinion to that effect," Brumbaugh said. "And that opinion, along with generating a draft of frequently asked questions — a series of questions that seem to be recurring themes — are going to be discussed and reviewed by council on Thursday evening.”
The group working to stop the casino notes that more than 200 messages opposing the casino have been sent to the township in the past two weeks alone.
The proposed casino is waiting for a public hearing and vote by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
