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Hearing set on Josephs' bill to require 1,500-foot casino buffer zone

HARRISBURG, Sept. 10 -- State Rep. Babette Josephs' legislation that would require a 1,500-foot buffer zone between schools, churches, playgrounds and casinos in Philadelphia is being reviewed by a House committee.

Josephs will testify before the House Gaming Oversight Committee at its hearing on her H.B. 1477 at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 in the Spinnaker Room of the Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia.

"Many Philadelphians are upset by the planned locations of the casinos because of the impact they will have on the surrounding community -- and rightly so," Josephs said. "Casinos increase traffic and draw crowds, and the people who live in the adjacent neighborhoods will be affected by these things every day. Their concerns should be taken into account, but the Gaming Control Board did not do so, which is why I've introduced this bill.

"Creating this buffer zone is a way to maintain their quality of life," she said, adding that an unofficial poll last spring showed that 95 percent of voters wanted casinos banned from within 1,500 feet of schools, residential neighborhoods, playgrounds and places of worship.

Josephs has advocated for more local involvement and oversight since the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board first began considering awarding slot licenses in the city.

She criticized the PGCB for not providing enough public access to casino applications during the review process, and she opposed legislation that would have removed local authority regarding casino zoning decisions and allowed casinos to ignore the city's no-smoking ordinance.

As a result, Josephs ensured that Philadelphia kept its authority regarding zoning and land-use decisions in the final slots law, as well as required city casinos to adhere to its no-smoking ban. Josephs also stopped a plan to remove the power for approving riparian land conveyances. Legislation was planned to allow the governor to convey them directly to developers, but Josephs was successful in getting it dropped.

The Wednesday hearing, which begins at 9:30 a.m., also will discuss riparian rights and the suitability of the Foxwoods casino site.