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S. Russell seeks to regulate gambling cafes
(by Joan Demirjian - June 01, 2011)
S. Russell seeks to regulate gambling cafes
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
South Russell planning commission is working on regulations on where Internet cafes can be located in the village.
It will be a zoning change, according to Mayor Matthew Brett. "It would allow but regulate Internet sweepstakes, and it will be available in certain districts in the village."
The planning commission will specify the locations where the online gambling can take place, Mr. Brett said. Village Council then would put some regulations on the businesses, he said.
"Some communities have prohibited them, while others welcome them, because they are another business and help with revenue," he said. The thought is not to prohibit them but to control them, he said.
Internet cafes sell customers phone cards or computer time and enter them in sweepstakes. Customers use computers in the businesses to try to win more time or sweepstake tickets.
Councilman James Flaiz, who serves on the village planning commission, said, "We're preparing zoning regulations to limit where they can go in the village."
Those locations will be in the areas zoned Industrial-I and Business-I in areas off East Washington Street.
At the last meeting of the planning commission, the potential zoning change was put together, he said.
The planning commission figures out where to allow the businesses and determines licensing fees, he said. "I expect it to be passed."
At an upcoming meeting of Village Council, members will vote on the matter, Mr. Flaiz said.
The village approved a six-month moratorium on the businesses until the zoning changes can be made, he said. The moratorium expires in July, and it will probably be extended, he said.
Council is responsible for the zoning regulations. Locally, the City of Chardon and Middlefield Village have passed zoning and business regulations and those regulations can be used as a model to come up with regulations in South Russell, Mr. Flaiz said.
There have been no requests for Internet cafes in the village, he said. "This is pre-emptive, so we have control over it," he said.
"We're working with Chardon and Middlefield and tweaking their ordinance," Mr. Flaiz said.
"We'll put them in place and regulate the businesses," he said. "I don't believe we have a legal basis to keep them out, and that concerned us. And we want to have regulations in place," he said.
"I would prefer to plan ahead rather than to be reacting," Mr. Flaiz said.
"We're going to put in stringent regulations and licensing fees," he said. If they really want to locate in South Russell, they will be regulated, Mr. Flaiz said.
Geauga County Planning Director David Dietrich said no townships in the county have adopted Internet cafe zoning yet. A business was proposed in Chester but was denied and then withdrawn.
Most communities are holding off to see what the Ohio Legislature is going to do, he said. A bill is being introduced to regulate Internet cafes to ensure their gaming devices are set up properly, he said.
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