Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
Get yours: subscribe here. Refer a friend: share this link.
Batavia is bringing back its discussion on capping video gaming licenses and changing how new ones get approved.
On Tuesday, Sept. 29, the Committee of the Whole will review three ordinances that would set a limit on licenses, add new location rules, and ban “gaming cafes.'“ A final City Council vote could come as soon as Oct. 5.
Here's what to know:
A cap on licenses: The proposal would allow 14 licenses citywide and 9 downtown, one more than the current 13 and 8. That extra spot would account for Geneva Winery, which has a gaming application pending. If council wants to decide on the winery separately, it could set the cap at 13 and 8 instead.
The buffer debate: In July, officials leaned toward a 100-foot buffer from schools and places of worship. The new draft gives council three options, and only one of them includes parks. The rule would apply only to newly licensed locations, not existing businesses already that already feature gaming.
Gaming cafés banned: The city would effectively ban "video gaming cafés," which means businesses where gaming is the main draw and food and drinks are secondary.
Officials may also discuss whether to allow gaming in Batavia's office and industrial areas.
Learn more from this city memo covering the topic.
📖 Thanks for reading
Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.
Not signed up yet? Subscribe here.