nocasinogettysburg.org » Civil War Preservation Trust http://nocasinogettysburg.org No Casino in Gettysburg Sun, 14 Nov 2010 14:47:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Mason Dixon questions preservation group’s campaign http://nocasinogettysburg.org/mason-dixon-casino-and-resort http://nocasinogettysburg.org/mason-dixon-casino-and-resort#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:26:44 +0000 getty http://nocasinogettysburg.org/?p=682 Developers behind the proposed Mason Dixon Resort & Casino think a letter-writing campaign organized by the Civil War Preservation Trust is “highly improper,” since it aims to influence legislators to oppose the Cumberland Township project.

In a letter dated March 18, Mason Dixon attorney Bernard A. Yannetti Jr. informs CWPT President James Lighthizer that “in organizing a letter-writing campaign to state legislators regarding the Mason Dixon application, you are attempting to compromise the licensing process by encouraging state lawmakers to exert their influence over the (Gaming Control) Board and the licensing process.”

Gettysburg businessman David LeVan and co-partner Joseph Lashinger are seeking a newly created “slots resort” license, and plan to file an application with the Gaming Control Board by the April 7 deadline. They are looking to convert the Eisenhower Inn along Business 15 south of Gettysburg into a resort — Mason Dixon Resort & Casino — with up to 600 slot machines, and 50 table games.

The Civil War Preservation Trust joined three other state and national organizations in January to announce opposition to the project. Now, the organization is directing opponents to write letters to state lawmakers, via a link on the group’s Web site.

Yannetti cited the state gaming act’s prohibition on “ex parte” interaction, defined as “off-the record communication engaged in or received by a member or (officer) of the board regarding…a pending matter before the board,” which may later come before the board in an official legal hearing or proceeding, such as the Mason Dixon proposal.

The seven-member gaming board is the sole agency responsible for issuing casino licenses in Pennsylvania.

“The Gaming Act requires the board to make their licensing decisions based solely on the information that is contained within the applications, presented to them during public hearings and disclosed in investigative reports,” wrote Yannetti. “Board members are prohibited from speaking with any person, including state lawmakers, regarding the merits of the applications for the remaining Category Three license.”

Mason Dixon spokesman David La Torre described the preservation group’s campaign as “really unfortunate and sad,” adding that it’s an “insult to the majority of people in Adams County who support the project.”

“To make matters worse, they’re pushing people to ask legislative leaders, including the governor, to exert their influence on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board,” said La Torre. “That would clearly be against the law, and it’s an unfair request to make of these elected leaders.”

“Perhaps they should focus more on preserving land that is actually within the National Military Park’s boundaries,” continued La Torre. “The project they’re fighting isn’t even located in the park.”

A scientific survey released last week by nationally-recognized pollster Dr. G. Terry Madonna found that 62 percent of the 600 Adams County residents polled support the project. Opponents, such as the No Casino Gettysburg volunteer group, have argued that the poll results are skewed.

Preservationists argue that the Eisenhower Inn, while no new construction is planned with LeVan’s project, is situated only a “half-mile” from Gettysburg National Military Park boundaries, and that a casino would diminish the nearby Hallowed Ground.

The Civil War Preservation Trust was joined Jan. 28 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Parks Conservation Association and Preservation Pennsylvania in announcing opposition to the Mason Dixon project. All four groups stressed that their position “does not stem from any opposition to gambling, but from our longstanding commitment to ensuring that singular and significant historic sites like the Gettysburg Battlefield are treated with the respect and consideration they deserve.”

The groups also opposed LeVan’s previous casino project — Crossroads Gaming Resort in Straban Township — in 2006. That proposal was denied by state gaming regulators.

The Preservation Trust has protected more than 29,000 acres of land since 1987, including 700 acres at Gettysburg. Now with a membership of 55,000, the Civil War Preservation Trust claims to be the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation agency in the United States.

By Scot Andrew Pitzer

Copyright © 2010 – Gettysburg Times

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]]> http://nocasinogettysburg.org/mason-dixon-casino-and-resort/feed 0 Preservation Groups Declare Opposition To New Gettysburg Casino Proposal http://nocasinogettysburg.org/preservation-groups-declare-opposition-to-new-gettysburg-casino-proposal-2 http://nocasinogettysburg.org/preservation-groups-declare-opposition-to-new-gettysburg-casino-proposal-2#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:38:07 +0000 ssp http://nocasinogettysburg.org/?p=295 Proposal poses direct threat to National Park and America’s most famous small town

– In a letter dated January 26, 2010, a coalition of state and national preservation groups conveyed to Adams County, Pa., businessman David LeVan their decision to oppose his effort to open a casino a half-mile to the south of Gettysburg National Military Park. In the letter, the Civil War Preservation Trust, National Parks Conservation Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation Pennsylvania cited the location’s proximity to the battlefield as a direct threat, noting that the potential development and traffic impacts place the National Park at further risk. After thanking LeVan for his outreach to the preservation community in this matter and his generosity to various local philanthropic causes, the four groups stressed that their position does not stem from any opposition to gambling, but, rather, from “our longstanding commitment to ensuring that singular and significant historic sites like the Gettysburg Battlefield are treated with the respect and consideration they deserve.”

“Some places are just too important to be treated with anything less than the greatest respect, and Gettysburg is one of those places,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Anyone who has visited the battlefield in recent years can attest to the fact that commercial development is threatening the visitor experience at Gettysburg, and this proposed casino would greatly exacerbate the problem. A new casino located so close to this sacred soil is simply unacceptable.”

After preliminary plans for the casino became public in late 2009, each preservation organization performed its own independent due diligence investigation, including meeting with Mr. LeVan personally, before reaching the same conclusion: the site’s proximity to the hallowed ground of Gettysburg creates an inappropriate juxtaposition damaging to the national park. “We remain committed to protecting our national icon—Gettysburg National Military Park” said Tom Kiernan, president of the National Parks Conservation Association. “A casino conflicts with the heritage-based economy of Gettysburg, with its meaning in American history today, and with its future relevance.” If licensed, the casino would be incorporated into the existing Eisenhower Resort and Conference
Center, just one half-mile from the boundary of Gettysburg National Military Park. The site is also within the historically sensitive “study area” of the battlefield, as defined by the American Battlefield Protection Program (the battlefield preservation arm of the National Park Service).

Not only is this proposal significantly closer to the park than the 2006 Crossroads Gaming Resort and Spa plan, it also lies along the Emmitsburg Road, at the heart of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Scenic Byway (created in October 2009) and Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area (signed into law in May 2008). Such designations are not undertaken lightly and, according to the letter, “reinforce our belief that this is a region of tremendous historic significance that we have a duty to safeguard for future generations.” “I remember four years ago when our organizations joined a dedicated group of local activists to defeat this short-sighted scheme the first time. No matter where I went, anywhere in the country, people were astounded at the very idea of a gambling casino at Gettysburg,” said CWPT president James Lighthizer. “There was a near-universal agreement that locating and marketing a gambling facility at Gettysburg unavoidably conflicts with the essential meaning of this place in American history.”

A. Roy Smith, chairman of the board of Preservation Pennsylvania, reiterated that the fundamental reasoning behind his group’s opposition to a Gettysburg-area casino has not changed. “We remain steadfast in our opposition to any casino proposed in close proximity to the Gettysburg National Military Park. Preservation Pennsylvania’s reasons for including this sacred place on the 2006 Pennsylvania At Risk listing have not changed — a casino near this highly significant site, in any location, is inappropriate.”In addition to the proposal’s proximity to the national park, the letter outlined additional concerns with the project, including potential impact on the region’s vibrant heritage tourism industry. Citing current visitation statistics and scientific economic impact analysis, the groups concluded that “the combination of Civil War preservation and the family friendly nature of Adams County has created a proven, winning formula for the park and its neighboring communities. A casino will conflict with this proven economic engine—heritage tourism, and development compatible with and respectful of that heritage.” The letter further noted that the portion of Cumberland Township where the casino would be located predominantly features residential dwellings and agricultural operations, with limited and generally small-scale commercial development occasionally intermixed. The groups expressed the opinion that the facility would “have the potential to significantly increase traffic through the area, generate more incompatible large-scale development, and would likely necessitate the kind of eye-catching signage that would be out of place in what has up to now been a relatively undeveloped area.”

About the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT)With 55,000 members, the Civil War Preservation Trust is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation
organization in the United States. Its mission is to preserve our nation’s remaining Civil War
battlefields and encourage their appreciation through education and heritage tourism. Since 1987, the
organization has saved more than 29,000 acres of hallowed ground, including 700 acres at Gettysburg.
CWPT’s website is located at www.civilwar.org.

About the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)Since 1919, the nonpartisan, nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading
voice of the American people in protecting and enhancing our National Park System. NPCA, its members, and partners work together to protect the park system and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for generations to come. NPCA is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with more than 325,000 members, including more than 15,000 members in Pennsylvania. NPCA’s website is located at www.npca.org.

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history took place, NTHP helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, 9 regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, NTHP
provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories. NTHP’s website is located at www.preservationnation.org.

About Preservation Pennsylvania
Preservation Pennsylvania is a private statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Pennsylvania’s historic places through creative partnerships, targeted educational programs and grassroots advocacy programs. Since 1982 and with the support of 2600 members and member agencies, the organization has been the statewide voice for historic preservation and has provided support and technical assistance to individuals, groups and municipalities. Preservation Pennsylvania’s website is www.preservationpa.org.

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]]> http://nocasinogettysburg.org/preservation-groups-declare-opposition-to-new-gettysburg-casino-proposal-2/feed 0 Preservation group will fight Gettysburg casino project http://nocasinogettysburg.org/preservation-group-will-fight-gettysburg-casino-project http://nocasinogettysburg.org/preservation-group-will-fight-gettysburg-casino-project#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:12:15 +0000 ssp http://nocasinogettysburg.org/?p=288 A coalition of national and state historic preservation groups will fight renewed plans by Gettysburg businessman David LeVan to develop a casino in Adams County.

LeVan is seeking a resort casino license for the Eisenhower Hotel and Conference Center in Cumberland Twp. That license would allow development of a casino with up to 600 slot machines and 50 table games on a tract lying just a half-mile from the Gettysburg National Military Park.

The coalition, comprised of the Civil War Preservation Trust, National Parks Conservation Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation Pennsylvania, issued a joint statement today saying their opposition is based on the threat of overdevelopment of an area so close to the historic Civil War battlefield. The groups also contend a casino is a bad fit with the heritage tourism Adams County thrives on.

“Locating and marketing a gambling facility at Gettysburg unavoidably conflicts with the essential meaning of this place in American history,” said James Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Preservation Trust.

LeVan’s partnership criticized the groups for acting before seeing final plans for the site. LeVan has said his project will save and create hundreds of new jobs, improve a now-struggling commercial property and generate needed revenue for county and local governments.

By CHARLES THOMPSON, The Patriot-News
January 28, 2010, 6:25PM

]]> http://nocasinogettysburg.org/preservation-group-will-fight-gettysburg-casino-project/feed 0 Group raising money to save battlefield http://nocasinogettysburg.org/group-raising-money-to-save-battlefield http://nocasinogettysburg.org/group-raising-money-to-save-battlefield#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:39:05 +0000 getty http://nocasinogettysburg.org/?p=396 America’s largest preservation group has launched a campaign to raise $75,000 in hopes of permanently saving a 2-acre piece of land on the Gettysburg Battlefield.

When its goal is met, the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) plans to sell the land to the National Park Service – which has already allocated $300,000 toward the purchase. In the meantime, the CWPT has the land under contract.

Acquiring the property – which lies directly along the Emmitsburg Road and was originally part of the historic Philip Snyder farm – has long been considered a top priority by Gettysburg National Military Park officials, spokeswoman Katie Lawhon said.

There are two main reasons for that status, Lawhon said.

First of all, the property is in close proximity to areas of major battle action – particularly Little Round Top, the Peach Orchard and Devil’s Den, all popular tourist areas. It is estimated that nearly a third of the Union Army marched by or across the property on their way to Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.

Secondly, two modern homes which sit on the property are significantly more intrusive on the views of those studying the battlefield since park officials completed a landscape rehabilitation project on that section of the battlefield. Much of the work included tree removal to make the land look more like it did in 1863.

What that meant was a better view of the landscape – and the houses.

“They really, really stuck out like a sore thumb,” Lawhon said, adding that the park plans to remove the homes when the land comes under its ownership.
But – as with any potential land purchase – the park cannot do anything unless there is a willing seller.

The park was notified late last year of the owner’s intention to sell the property. But the land was appraised at a value significantly higher than the $300,000 already set aside.

Lawhon declined to comment on the difference, but the CWPT has set its fundraising goal at $75,000.

Acting quickly, before a new private landowner could purchase and further develop the property, the CWPT put the land under contract. After closing, the CWPT plans to sell the land to the National Park Service for $300,000.

“Virtually everyone who has ever come to Gettysburg, seeking to walk the fields of the Civil War’s greatest battle, has passed by this land,” CWPT president James Lighthizer said in a news release. “As significant as the protection of large swaths of historic land can be, getting critical in-holdings like this one under protection of the National Park Service cannot be overemphasized.”

About 80 parcels of land – the equivalent of about one in every six acres – within the 6,000-acre battlefield are privately owned. Of those, about 30 are considered high priority by park officials.

Those types of statistics are not unique to Gettysburg, however.

According to a 2008 study by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), there are 4.3 million acres of privately owned land within the borders of America’s national parks.

Gettysburg National Military Park received land-acquisition funds from the federal government in 2009 for the first time since 2001. That allocation, which amounted to $2.2 million, is what will fund this latest purchase.

Lawhon said the park’s plan is to restore the property to its 1863 appearance by removing the modern structures and returning the landscape to an agricultural field.

Donations toward the fundraising campaign can be made at www.civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg/gettysburg-2010/.

ON THE WEB

The Civil War Preservation Trust is raising money to preserve a 2-acre piece of land near Little Round Top and Devil’s Den. To donate, visit www.civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg/gettysburg-2010/.

By Erin James

Copyright © 2010 – The Evening Sun

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