Plans for Urbandale Casino Are Withdrawn, Say City Officials

Developers have withdrawn their proposal for a new casino in Urbandale, just one week after paperwork was filed to start the project.

The Des Moines Business Record reported Friday afternoon that the application to rezone 85 acres for the project was withdrawn. Urbandale City Administrator A.J. Johnson confirmed to the Business Record that Fair Grounds LLC  -- a partnership of West Des Moines businessman Gary Kirke and Mike Richards -- withdrew its application.

News of the casino plan surfaced Monday. The intended site was just north of Interstate 80/35 at the southwest corner of the intersection of 100th Street and Northwest 54th Avenue in Urbandale. The area is adjacent to Grimes and Johnston city limits.

What's your reaction to news that plans for an Urbandale casino have been shelved? Tell us your views below in comments.

The rezoning request was to have been on the Oct. 8 Urbandale Planning and Zoning meeting agenda.

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There are many hurdles the plans, just made public this week, must clear before developers could develop an 85-acre site on the north side of Urbandale as a hotel, casino and other attractions. Polk County voters would have to give their OK, and the state would have to issue a license -- neither considered a sure bet.

Former Urbandale mayor and current Polk County Supervisor E.J. Giovannetti said he questions the need for a second casino in the county, and believes residents will, too.

"Knowing the community as I do, I would say there will be more against than there is for," Giovannetti said.

With Prairie Meadows casino in Altoona on the eastern side of the county, plus casinos less than an hour's drive away in Osceola and Tama, he doubts the Urbandale plans generate widespread public support.

"People are generally going to say that's enough gaming for who we are," Giovannetti said.

The first step in the process is an Urbandale Planning & Zoning Commission meeting on Oct. 8, said Urbandale City Manager A.J. Johnson. The land must be rezoned for usage as a casino.

"The paperwork has been filed, but we're taking a wait-and-see attitude," he said. "This is something brought to our attention, they thought this would be a place to investigate on behalf of their company."

Last week, developers Gary Kirke of West Des Moines and Mike Richards filed a request that could lead to the development of a casino at the intersection of 100th Street and Northwest 54th Avenue in Urbandale. A spokeswoman for the firm declined to comment on the project.

The land, on the southwest corner of the intersection, is owned by Frampton Farms Inc., according to the Des Moines Business Record. The property is entirely in Urbandale, although the city limits of both Johnston and Grimes are north of Northwest 54th Avenue.