The City Council voted Tuesday night to take the next step in the development of a casino and entertainment resort by rezoning the former Dan River Mills industrial complex at 1100 West Main St. in the Schoolfield area from M-I industrial manufacturing to a C-E casino entertainment district.
The vote follows the Planning Commission’s recommendation last month that the property be rezoned. The district covers the north side of West Main Street from Bishop Road to Baltimore Avenue.
The C-E casino entertainment district was created and added to the City zoning ordinance in May, and it outlines the zoning district’s purpose, permitted uses, uses permitted by special use permit, lot size requirement, bulk regulations, parking, exterior lighting, signs, noise, landscape and open space and additional requirements.
Caesars Entertainment, through its subsidiary Caesars Virginia, plans to build a resort casino on the site. Last night, Caesars Virginia senior director of design and construction Mark Schlang told City Council members the company will present the casino’s design within the next couple of months.
Schlang also said the 750-000-square foot finishing building will be demolished.
The resort is slated to open in the third or fourth quarter of 2023.
In other matters last night, the City Council voted to:
- Amend the zoning ordinance to add a definition for cannabis dispensing facilities and to allow them as a permitted use in a neighborhood retail commercial district.
- Amend the city budget appropriation ordinance to add $172,272 in federal funds to be used for design services to rehabilitate the south ramp at the Danville Regional Airport
- Grant a special use permit for a duplex at 346 Virginia Ave.
- Grant a special use permit at 259 Guilford St.
- Grant a rezoning request at 1083 Franklin Turnpike.
- Grant a rezoning request at 816 West Main St.
- Grant a special use permit for a day care center at 145 Franklin Turnpike.
- Amend the zoning ordinance to allow contractor’s establishments in highway retail commercial districts.
- Authorize an application to the Virginia Department of Rail and Transportation for federal and state mass transit assistance.
Also during the business session, the City Council held a first reading on appropriation of $100,000 in state funds and $20,000 in local funds for airport maintenance, including pavement repairs for automobile parking lots, the primary runway and taxiway. A first reading is an introductory step required by City Code. City Council will vote on this matter later this month.