Category: News

The Village of Islandia has completed a taxpayer relief agreement with Delaware North, allowing the corporation to move forward in its bid to operate up to 1,000 Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs), two Suffolk Off-Track Betting kiosks and OTB simulcasts at the Marriott Hotel, located at Exit 58 on the North Service Road of the Long Island Expressway. The agreement follows the Village of Islandia’s Board of Trustees’ approval of a special use permit, subject to the entry of the taxpayer relief agreement, on August 12.

In 2010, the Village eliminated garbage taxes, saving the average resident about $500 per year. “Today, I am proud to say that this agreement will once again provide real tax relief to Village residents,” said Mayor Allan M. Dorman in making the announcement. “Within the first two years after payments begin, Village taxes will be reduced by up to 50%.”

The Mayor went on to say, “I have lived in Suffolk County for 37 years. No one has ever given me real tax relief. When was the last time you heard that government had a plan to reduce taxes by up to 50%?”

Specifically, the agreement provides for equal annual payments amounting to $47 million over the course of its 20-year term. It also includes a payment of $1.53 million for the completion of the construction and development of the Village’s First Responders Recreation Baseball Field on Old Nichols Road. The Village had earlier announced plans to redevelop the park to include concessions, bathrooms and other extensive improvements.

“Rather than bond for the needed improvements at the field, we will be able to move forward with our redevelopment plans, helping to create a baseball field that all Village residents and those from surrounding communities can enjoy and take great pride in,” Mayor Dorman said. “The approval of Delaware North’s application and the taxpayer relief agreement is good public policy, not only for Village residents, but also the surrounding communities. It will provide more jobs and help local businesses. At the same time, the security and operation controls we are placing on the operator, along with reviews every two years, will ensure that it will only enhance the local quality of life we have worked hard to foster in Islandia.”

The Village of Islandia has announced that the Village Board of Trustees approved a special use permit for Delaware North’s application to operate up to 1,000 Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs), two Suffolk Off-Track Betting kiosks and OTB simulcasts at the Marriott Hotel, located at Exit 58 on the North Service Road of the Long Island Expressway. The application was approved subject to the entry of taxpayer relief agreement within 5 days.

Mayor Allan M. Dorman explained why the Board of Trustees approved the application, citing real tax relief for Village residents, job creation and that the applicant, through the agreement, addressed other concerns regarding the operation of the hotel, including providing adequate security, additional traffic controls, as well as making other concessions, with respect to the facility’s operation.

“We have taken steps to ensure Delaware North’s operation of this hotel and the VLTs will have a minimal impact on the surrounding communities and it will be a hotel operating VLTs, not the other way around. For one, there will be no Vegas-style shows at the hotel,” Mayor Dorman said. “Tony Orlando is not coming to Islandia.”

Specifically, the agreement will:

• Provide more than 200 jobs, with preference given to local residents and job training given to all employees
• Provide around-the-clock security inside and outside the hotel, including surveillance and guard presence and roving patrols in the hotel’s parking lot
• Implement new traffic controls to minimize congestion on local roads

The Village will review the special use permit every two years.

“We anticipate that upon approval of the taxpayer relief agreement, within the first two years, Village taxes will be reduced by up to 50%,” Mayor Dorman said. “This approval provides several significant benefits to the Village and surrounding communities, including real, significant tax relief to Village residents, along with job creation for Suffolk County. It will have a real impact on local Village families and their ability to withstand the high cost of living on Long Island.”

This is an expanded environmental assessment of a proposed special permit for an accessory indoor amusement establishment at the Islandia Marriott Long Island Hotel at 3635 Express Drive North. Read MoreThis is an expanded environmental assessment of a proposed special permit for an accessory indoor amusement establishment at the Islandia Marriott Long Island Hotel at 3635 Express Drive North. Read More

“Tomorrow’s (July 12th) scheduled Islandia Village Board meeting has been cancelled. The Village continues to perform its due diligence with respect to the application from Delaware North to operate a casino at the Islandia Marriott.”