Big 6 Casinos

Las Vegas Sands Seeks Casino Permit in Bethlehem

The Las Vegas Sands Corp. on Friday asked city officials to declare a casino as a permitted use in Bethlehem.

"We feel strongly that gaming is a permitted use on the site," Sands spokesman Anderw Abboud said Friday. "But our opponents and others have said they don't think it is. In an abundance of caution, we're going to submit some language that absolutely clarifies that."

The language the Sands sent the city calls for adding "licensed gaming facility" as a permitted use under the Industrial Redevelopment zoning. That is the zoning for the proposed casino site, owned by BethWorks Now LLC.

Plans submitted to the city show an initial development of the casino east of the Minsi Trail Bridge, next to the preserved ore crane. A 300-room hotel spread over 12 stories, multipurpose theater, cinema, restaurants, and retail are proposed west of the bridge.

Bethlehem's planning commission is scheduled to review the sketch plans August 17 and would likely consider the zoning change then as well, city Planning and Zoning Director Darlene Heller said.

The commission would have 30 days to make a recommendation to city council on the zoning change. Council would then hold a public hearing prior to votes on approval, under city ordinance. The ordinance does not spell out the opportunity to appeal council's decision.