Las Vegas Sands proposes expanding Meadowbrook Parkway, other changes for casino resort at Nassau Coliseum
The report also identified a need for improvements to traffic, the power grid, the water district, and an expansion to the Meadowbrook Parkway.
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Some Nassau residents say they're concerned after a 28,000-page report detailing proposed changes to Long Island roadways and other areas to construct a casino and resort at the Nassau Coliseum.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement from Las Vegas Sands provides a look at the proposed site, including two hotels, with a total of 1,670 rooms.
The report also identified a need for improvements to traffic, the power grid and the water district.
Las Vegas Sands’ Senior Vice President of Strategy and Public Affairs Michael Levoff says the infrastructure changes wouldn’t just benefit the project.
"It would absolutely have beneficial impacts for the community,” he said.
Sands would commit $150 million for the infrastructure changes, including a new water well for the water district, new water main for the site, and a new power substation for the site and neighboring community.
The biggest changes though would expand parts of the Meadowbrook Parkway from the Northern State Parkway to Hempstead Turnpike.
"Sands is committed to spending upwards of $100 million to increase lane capacity throughout that area of the Meadowbrook,” said Levoff. “It's not just to provide ease of access to our site, but it will alleviate any existing traffic condition that exists."
Sands would also make changes to bridges, on ramps, and off ramps. According to the report, the resort could generate over 10,000 vehicle trips from peak hour Friday evening through peak hour Saturday evening.
Not everyone in the community is on board.
"They're wrecking our suburban lifestyle. I'm not buying it,” said Lynn Krug, of Garden City. "We can't afford to have the Meadowbrook Parkway turn into four lanes. And it's going to disrupt other communities, not just the Uniondale area."
Families like the Krug's in Garden City say Nassau doesn’t need a casino.
"It's not like the Sands came here like Santa Claus and said, 'Hey Long Island, let's fix your infrastructure.' They're doing it for one purpose only. They want to build a casino,” said George Krug.
Stephen Canzoneri, from the New York State Department of Transportation, told News 12 in a statement, “The New York State Department of Transportation would review any application for a highway work permit once it is received.”
The public can comment on the proposals during a public meeting on Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. at the Nassau County Legislature.
Public comments on the project are being accepted until Jan. 6.
Read the full proposal here.
