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The Livermore Planning Commission unanimously supported an operational and parking expansion for Parkwest Casino 580 as well as changes to the city’s cardroom ordinances.
Among the allowances Parkwest Casino 580 requested were increasing the number of its cardroom tables from a population-based value to 16 tables, forgoing nine-hour long closures on Mondays for 24/7 operations, increasing the maximum betting limit from $200 to $1000, permission for 10-person backline betting, and permission to play new card games — including Pai Gow with tiles — not prohibited by state law.
Additionally, the commission supported construction of a 230-space surface parking lot on vacant land east of the casino. Bike parking would be added outside the casino and the applicant would be responsible for restriping traffic lanes and creating a Class IV bike lane with a landscaped buffer along North Canyons Parkway.
The commissioners also backed changes to the municipal code and planning documents required for Parkwest Casino 580 to take on the adjusted operations. These proposed citywide changes include increasing allowable hours of operation, increasing the maximum bet limit, permitting limited backline betting, permitting the play of new card games not prohibited by state law, modifying tournament noticing requirements, modifying the number of cardroom licenses permitted per person and additional miscellaneous amendments made for clarification, according to the staff report.
These amendments to the city code would not immediately apply to Livermore Casino, at 3571 First St., the only other cardroom in the city. Instead, Livermore Casino would need to apply for a new or amended development agreement or conditional use permit, which would be subject to a separate environmental review and discretionary approval.
Following the commission’s positive recommendation, the City Council will consider the Parkwest Casino 580 requests as well as the citywide changes.
If approved by council, the amendments would also require approval from groups including the Bureau of Gambling Control, the Gambling Control Commission —which will hold its own hearing — and finally the Livermore Police Department.
The proposal also includes community benefits, which Commissioner Jacob Anderson pointed out as a positive component of the plans.
“I am typically not a fan of cardrooms. I think that they’re typically a car-centric use, where usually people have to arrive to a specific spot to utilize them. And then typically the goal of cardrooms is to keep the patrons in the card rooms. So therefore, ancillary businesses typically do not benefit from that travel,” Anderson said.
“The community benefit package that we see in this are quite substantial. And I believe that that outweighs the negatives that we would see from the car-centric uses. And on top of that the additional parking, I think, is absolutely necessary for a use like this,” he added.
One benefit is an increase to the monthly fee paid to the city per card table from $1,900 per table for 10 tables to $4,800 per table for 16 tables.
Revenue generated from the table fee would be used to fund future city staff positions in the police and community development departments, city staff said.
The second public benefit would be an applicant contribution of $60,000 toward the purchase and installation of traffic cameras as well as $29,000 toward the purchase and installation of license plate readers. Upkeep of the cameras and readers would be funded by the table fee revenue.
As for parking, the additional spots would alleviate the unmet parking demand at the cardroom — some patrons currently park along Doolan Road and Collier Canyon Road to access the casino. Staff determined that an additional 230 spots would meet demand, even with the additional card tables. Doolan Road and Collier Canyon Road would become no parking zones.
The parking expansion also aligned with current code, Commissioner Daniel Leary said. Stall sizes are in abidance and there are two pedestrian links whereas only one is required.
He also said he expects the stormwater control requirements will be met as well as the necessary trees and decorative elements along the walkway to the casino’s front door.
On the subject of increasing the allowable tables at Parkwest Casino 580, Commissioner Yolanda Fintschenko said, “The setting of an absolute limit, and in addition to being simpler because populations fluctuate, also makes our law fall into better compliance with the gambling authority because it removes the opportunity for automatic increase which would occur based on population change.”
Extended business hours and number of tables doesn’t change the nature of the facility, Leary added. “But the one thing that was eye-popping was the gambling limit of 200 to 1,000. That seems high to me,” he said.
To Leary, the current limit of $200 allows the business to function well and raising that limit to $1,000 might cause issues for someone who has a gambling problem.
Originally, Parkwest Casino 580 requested permission for unlimited wagers, but staff declined.
Staff felt like it was appropriate to increase the betting limit, but not to an unlimited value, staff said.
The sole public commenter named Constance Kopps expressed concern over potential vagrancy and public safety risks resulting from the casino.
In response to safety concerns, Livermore Police Capt. Jason Boberg said, “Most of the crime that kind of centers around Casino operations tends to be follow-home crime.”
He added, “It’s highly unusual they get that crime at the facility. That’s because (those who commit crimes) know, like a bank, that there’s a certain level of camera and safety and security guards and police response.”
Following the commission’s unanimous support for the Parkwest Casino 580 requests and citywide amendments to its cardroom regulations, the commission elected Fintschenko as its new 2025 chairperson and Tracy Kronzak as vice chairperson.
The Livermore Planning Commission is looking to fill a current vacancy and a future vacancy. Applications are available on the city of Livermore website. Recruitment closes Jan. 27 at 5 p.m.
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