The PCI Gaming Authority of the Poarch Creek Indian Tribe owns the Pensacola Greyhound Track and Poker Room, which is working to move its operations to Northwest Pensacola. The project is running into opposition, though, because of local zoning concerns that need Escambia County’s permission before state authorization can be granted.
Zoning Challenges and Legal Debate
The proposed new location, situated at 2490 Interstate Circle, near Interstate-10 and Pine Forest Road, hinges on the county’s zoning laws. During a recent Escambia County Board of Commissioners meeting, the board discussed a draft ordinance aimed at clarifying where pari-mutuel gaming establishments, such as poker cardrooms, can operate within county zones. At present, the zoning codes do not explicitly address these establishments, sparking debate on whether an ordinance should be introduced to define these locations.
County Attorney Alison Rogers explained that the ordinance would help resolve ambiguity and ensure compliance with zoning regulations. “This would be sending an ordinance back to the planning board that could be created to specify which zoning categories they would be allowed in,” she said.
Although the Pensacola Greyhound Track and Poker Room has already secured the new property under contract, it still requires a land use certificate from Escambia County to confirm that the proposed location meets zoning requirements. Will Dunaway, the attorney representing the facility, argued that an ordinance was unnecessary, citing the unique status of pari-mutuel gaming in Florida. He pointed out that Florida law limits the number of pari-mutuel licenses to one within a 100-mile radius, making the Pensacola facility the only one of its kind in the area. “You don’t need an ordinance,” Dunaway stated. “It’s not a slippery slope. You’re not going to have a whole bunch of bars. You’re not going to have a whole bunch of cardrooms.”
However, commissioners did not grant the land use certificate during the meeting. Instead, they sent the proposed ordinance back to the planning board for further review. There was a request for additional language to address distance restrictions, similar to those applied to other regulated businesses, such as keeping them away from schools or churches.
Commissioner Steve Stroberger, whose district includes the proposed location, voiced concerns about the potential impact on nearby residential areas. “I still have concerns about where they want to put it,” Stroberger said. “I understand Will Dunaway’s position on it. It all makes sense to me, but I don’t think it’s going to make sense to the neighbors down there.”
For years, the relocation process has been going on. Following a statewide ban, the track stopped holding live dog races in 2019. In 2021, the facility sold its Dog Track Road land for $3.25 million. In 2021, there was another failed attempt to move to a location off Airport Boulevard.
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