Questions About Proposed Urbandale Casino Mean Its Future is Dicey

The buzz, both positive and negative, surrounding a proposed casino in Urbandale is morphing into questions.

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.

Does Polk County need a second casino? Tell us your views below in comments.

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.

The proposed location is less than a mile from Johnston's Horizon Elementary School and Summit Middle School.

Mike Brown of Urbandale, who is running for the Iowa House District 40 seat in November, said he opposes the expansion of gambling in Iowa, especially in his own back yard.

"However, I do believe there is a system in place with the Gaming Commission," he said. "The people of Urbandale will have the chance to vote whether they like this or not."

If voters do approve the casino, Brown said any type of private economic development is beneficial, if that's what residents want.

Urbandale Patch Readers Comment

The idea of the casino has Patch readers expressing their disinterest and support.

"We don't need any more casinos, especially this close to an elementary school (Horizon). The whole idea of building a casino in that area is ridiculous!" Jodi Thorson-Eichacker posted.

One reader shared her past experience working with Kirke's companies.

"We used to live in Earlham when Wild Rose tried to put a casino there. We studied thoroughly the effects of gambling on a community, and there was no benefit that came even close to counteracting all of the bad things that come to a community when gambling is brought in. Please, don't let gambling destroy Urbandale's Top 10 City status," Lisa Mc posted.

State Approval Required, Unlikely Say Some

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has made it clear it considers the state’s gambling market generally saturated, according to the Des Moines Register. Polk County has been described by one casino consultant’s study as an underserved market. But any new casino in central Iowa would be expected to siphon money and patrons from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, which is owned by Polk County taxpayers.

Prairie Meadows, which employs 1,450 people, is projected to contribute $37 million this year to Polk County, the City of Des Moines, local schools and charities, the Register reported.

The profits from Prairie Meadows, which is a non-profit entity, also pay the millions of dollars in bonds issued to build the Iowa Events Center. And, the gambling revenue has helped backfill the county's budget in recent years.

"Most important this issue really needs to be vetted," Giovannetti said. "I'm hoping people talk about this and people get the facts."