CALEXICO — A public hearing on the environmental impact report for the proposed Calexico Casino will continue at a Planning Commission meeting Jan. 26, after commissioners on Monday unanimously decided to postpone their decision on the sprawling development.

The delay came after Calexico Development Director Armando Villa told the commission that the project’s developer had requested more time to review the EIR before the commission takes a position.

Also on Monday the city received a letter from the California Department of Transportation objecting to the EIR’s analysis of several intersections. Caltrans asked the city to “revisit” several matters before approving the project.

Plans for the 232-acre project include a 460,000 square foot casino that would be operated by the Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay Indians, a 400-room hotel, and office and retail space. The proposed project site is southwest of the intersection of Jasper Road and Highway 111.

Villa said the developer was surprised by the scale of the impacts the EIR attributed to the project and wanted more time to analyze how much it would cost to offset the impacts.

The project also needs approval from the City Council and the federal government before construction could begin.

>> Staff Writer Nicolas Taborek can be reached at 337-3439 or ntaborek@ivpressonline.com