http://www.mydesert.com/article/20090916/NEWS06/909160317/County+takes+stand+against+tribe+s+casino+resort+plans           

Riverside County Supervisors on Tuesday adopted a resolution to object to the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians' proposal to annex 535 acres of land to its reservation to build a new, multimillion-dollar casino resort.

The tribe has completed a draft environmental impact statement — a required first step — to acquire the land through what's known as a “fee-to- trust” process for the 729,500-square- foot complex that would be called Horseshoe Grande.

The tribe now operates a casino on the reservation on the other side of the San Jacinto Mountains from the Coachella Valley.

The new casino would include:

A casino hotel with 300 rooms

Restaurants

Convention center, events arena and retail stores

Parking structure

Tribal lawyers have said the plan largely involves relocation of the casino as it does not include plans to expand gaming. While the federal government holds land on behalf of the tribe in trust situations, the tribe controls its use.

The Board of Supervisors, before its unanimous vote, said the study was flawed in the areas of health, public safety and environmental impact. Deficiencies were noted in the areas of fire protection, traffic control, evacuation plans, noise and air quality management or mitigation for casino operations.

Mike Hiles, who handles public relations for the tribe, said in a statement, “The Tribe is following a set process as mandated by the Federal Government, and appreciates all those who have provided input during this public comment phase.”

“Our concern is the project should look further” into traffic management issues, county Transportation Director Juan Perez said.

Perez said the sphere of study on traffic impact was narrow in scope, as it focused on only 11 intersections and did not take major thoroughfares like Ramona Expressway into account. Traffic estimates seemed low, he said, and crowd management plans weren't addressed.

Tish Arciniega, who lives near the expansion area, said this fee-to-trust request would be precedent-setting if granted by the Department of Interior. “Pre-existing communities could be isolated,'' she said.

Residents of three neighborhoods — they include Soboba Springs Mobile Estates, where Arciniega lives — would have to travel through the reservation to get to and from their homes, she said. She said the plan requires further study on the “island” effect this expansion would have on nearby residents.

“Conclusions are drawn on incomplete data,'' she said. “The project, with all the benefits it can bring to the tribe and community, deserves a document founded in fact.”