Nassau to study environmental impact of proposed Sands casino

The environmental impact of a $6 billion casino-resort proposal at the Nassau Coliseum will come under scrutiny Monday night as county legislators conduct the first "scoping session" in a state-mandated review of the project.

The meeting, aimed at sharing data and hearing concerns from the public, is expected to draw hundreds of local residents, business leaders and representatives from trades unions. It begins at 5 p.m. inside the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola. 

The project, proposed by Las Vegas Sands, is in the initial stages of a multi-step process required under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, or SEQRA. The scoping session will guide decisions on which aspects of the project to address in the review.

The process got off to a false start nine months ago when the Town of Hempstead held similar meetings at the Uniondale Marriott that drew more than 300 people. County legislators approved a lease agreement last year and left Hempstead town to assess the environmental impact.

But a state Supreme Court judge ordered the 19-member Nassau County legislature to lead the monthslong environmental review itself before it could grant Sands a lease to allow the company to build the casino-resort.

Presiding Officer Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence) said the purpose of Monday's meeting is to solicit public testimony that would be included in the draft environmental impact statement the county legislature will produce. Kopel said no legislative action would occur Monday.

"We're going to cross every 'T' and dot every 'I,' and we anticipate that no one will have any valid reason to complain," he told Newsday.  

The judge in November 2023 voided the initial development lease between Sands and the county, siding with nearby Hofstra University, which led the casino opposition and sued Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the county legislature and the county Planning Commission.

The 72-acre Coliseum site in Uniondale is owned by Nassau County but located in the Town of Hempstead, which controls the zoning of the property. 

The property is among the region's largest tracts of undeveloped commercial real estate, and the Nevada-base corporation is seeking to build the second-highest grossing casino in the nation there. Supporters say it will be a boon to the local economy and will have a ripple effect that would benefit surrounding businesses. Opponents say surrounding roadways are already too congested and that the area is not appropriate for gambling with two universities and a Catholic high school nearby.

Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, based in Farmingdale, said: "This is not about being for or against the project."

She said she prepared a 10-page letter evaluating what should be assessed in the scope, including drinking water protection, storm water management, solid waste generation, any pesticide use, water reuse programs and company recycling efforts.

"It's about ensuring a comprehensive environmental review of any impacts," Esposito said. "If it's built, we need to ensure the utmost protection to the environment." 

Minority Leader Legis. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) who cast the only "no" vote on the lease last year, said her caucus "will really be looking at it objectively and observe all of the information that will be presented." 

Sands would need to win a highly competitive state gaming license next year to build its planned "integrated resort" on the Coliseum property. The plan includes a casino, hotel, performance venue, convention center, retail, dining, a day spa and open public space.

A spokesman for the company declined to comment for this story.

Sands, which has a lease allowing it to operate the Coliseum, has promised more than 5,000 permanent jobs and 8,500 construction jobs if it is allowed to building the casino-resort. 

By Candice Ferrette

candice.ferrette@newsday.comcandiceferrette

Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.