The husband of No Casino Gettysburg Chairwoman Susan Star Paddock said Tuesday that he’ll recuse himself from voting later this week, when the Cumberland Township Planning Commission meets to consider casino zoning legislation.
Planning Commission member Jim Paddock cited his role with No Casino Gettysburg — the volunteer group that re-formed last year to combat new gaming plans in Adams County — as well as his relationship to the group’s chairwoman.
The planning commission convenes Thursday, March 11, at 7 p.m. to review zoning laws for gaming, but Paddock has already informed Chairman James Henderson that he won’t be casting a vote.
“I told him I would recuse myself for two reasons,” said Paddock. “There’s the perception of a conflict, and I also don’t think my vote is needed.”
Paddock said his decision is unrelated to a similar position taken by Supervisor Debra Golden. The three-year board member announced Monday that she won’t participate in deliberations March 18, when supervisors take a final vote on a casino zoning amendment.
Golden cited her history in working for Gettysburg businessman David LeVan, one of two business partners in the proposed “Mason Dixon Resort” project in Cumberland Township. Four years ago, Golden was employed by LeVan during his failed attempt at bringing gaming to Straban Township.
“Obviously, there’s been a perception of a conflict of interest for both of us on the issue,” Paddock said regarding himself and Golden.
“With Deb, it was the issue of her working for Dave LeVan,” he continued. “For me, it’s the issue of No Casino Gettysburg and my wife.”
Paddock said he made his decision “a week or two before” Golden announced publicly that she won’t vote March 18. He recently called the state’s Ethics Commission in Harrisburg, and asked for legal advice about his situation as a township planner. A spokesperson for the ethics commission did not immediately return an inquiry Tuesday.
“What they told me was that with the planning commission, there is no conflict of interest, because we are an advisory body,” explained Paddock. “They said with the supervisors, it’s different, because they’re a voting body,” he added.
Under the proposed zoning revision, “gaming facilities” would be permitted anywhere in the municipality’s mixed-use district, which includes major roadways near historic Gettysburg. A casino is currently not an allowable land-use within Cumberland Township, but state law must include language for every type of development.
However, the planning commission has indicated that it would rather place gaming facilities under “conditional use” land development regulations. That means developers would have to earn approval from the township for each particular project.
LeVan and Joseph Lashinger are hoping to transform the 300-room Eisenhower Inn along Business 15 into an exclusive slots resort, but need a zoning amendment to facilitate their project. The property is already home to commercial, recreational and residential development.
Paddock has served on the township’s planning commission for at least 10 years, making him the veteran member of the relatively new five-person panel. Previously, he served on the township’s zoning board, and he has a long history as a land-use planner.
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