Casino Development Dispute: Rockingham Residents File Lawsuit Against County
Rockingham Residents Take Legal Action Over Casino Development
Landowners in North Carolina’s Rockingham County have filed a lawsuit against the county commissioners for allegedly ignoring crucial legal standards when rezoning 192.7 acres of land earmarked for a casino project.
In August, the Rockingham Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a rezoning request from NC Development Holdings, associated with The Cordish Companies. These companies manage the popular Live! branded casinos in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
The county commissioners agreed to transition the nearly 193 acres of land from a “residential/agricultural” designation to a “highway commercial” classification.
The lawsuit identifies seven plaintiffs, including Camp Carefree, a cherished summer retreat for children with disabilities that has served the local community for nearly forty years. The plaintiffs assert that local officials made significant mistakes in approving the rezoning application and that NC Development Holdings did not provide a comprehensive explanation for the proposed changes.
Lawsuit Allegations
The county officials have been reticent about their motivations for swiftly backing the rezoning request. Rumours have circulated that Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) was negotiating discreetly with Cordish to facilitate the development of casinos in Rockingham, Anson, and Nash counties.
It has come to light that Berger’s son, Kevin Berger, is among the five commissioners supporting the rezoning. Campaign finance records indicate Cordish has donated upwards of $34,000 to Berger and other state Republicans. Furthermore, Cordish reportedly hosted the Rockingham commissioners at their Live! Casino & Hotel in Maryland.
Berger previously attempted to add a measure to North Carolina’s 2023-25 budget bill to legalise commercial casinos. His argument was that, with new casinos opening in Virginia, North Carolina should provide its residents with similar options.
The accusations against the Rockingham commissioners include breaches of the county’s Unified Development Ordinance, neglect of surrounding land uses, and the engagement in illegal contract zoning.
“We seriously question the judgment of local and state officials who believe it’s wise to place a casino adjacent to a well-loved camp for children with special needs,” stated one of the plaintiffs.
“If these officials had spent even a day at Camp Carefree this summer, they would understand the significance of maintaining our community’s integrity. We aim for this lawsuit to highlight the necessity for transparency and accountability among our elected officials,” the statement continued.
Landowner Claims Deception
The lawsuit also lists the landowners who agreed to sell their nearly 193 acres as defendants. One such landowner from Nash, who consented to sell his land to NC Development Holdings, claims he was misled into the agreement.
I call it deception,” Kent Dozier remarked, who had intended to sell his land on Dozier Road. He explained that he was never informed of NC Development Holdings’ affiliation with a casino.
“I’ve never purchased a lottery ticket. I don’t gamble,” Dozier emphasised. “I cannot fathom throwing my hard-earned cash at an uncertain gamble when the odds are stacked against me.”
In conclusion, the proceedings have set off a fervent debate within the local community regarding the future of the proposed casino and the associated development, as residents seek greater transparency and accountability from their local government.
