News

PLAINS TWP. – The township planning commission voted Thursday evening for the conditional approval of the expansion of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

click image to enlarge

James T. Murphy, of JCJ Architecture in Hartford, Conn., makes a presentation for the hotel and convention center at Mohegan Sun at the Plains Township planning commission meeting Thursday.

Don Carey/the times leader

Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store

Four out of five board members approved the continued development of the planned nine-story hotel and convention center with the condition of obtaining a highway occupancy permit, which is pending review from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

“They have one existing (permit), but because of additional development they have to go back to PennDOT to get it modified,” said board member Rock Stahovic.

A traffic impact study must also be reviewed and approved before the casino can proceed with the extension, said board chairman Martin O’Connor.

James T. Murphy, studio director of JCJ Architecture, based in Hartford, Conn., who gave a presentation at the meeting, said Mohegan Sun officials are planning to build soon when conditions are right for them to do it.

The 300-room hotel and 25,000-square-foot meeting space would be located next to the existing $208 million casino that opened in July 2008.

Board members also approved a minor subdivision plan for the casino to donate a small piece of land to the Luzerne County SPCA to expand its pet cemetery.