The $1B Everett Wynn Casino’s construction, originally set to begin in April of this year, is on hold until environmental impact issues are officially resolved.

By Jim Clark

The City of Somerville aggressively presented its case at a hearing in Boston last Thursday that the Department of Environmental Protection incorrectly gave its approval for the Wynn Boston Harbor project to go ahead with construction of its casino complex in Everett.

The hearing was initiated by Wynn Resorts in order to clear the way for construction of the casino complex to begin.

Five challenges to the development have been made by the city over the past few years, including one questioning the gaming license granted to the project in 2014. The remaining lawsuits have primarily focused on the environmental impact of the casino on the general area, including the City of Somerville.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone contends that the resort’s impact on the area will be significant and that policing and traffic regulation issues will be severely impacted.

Steve Wynn, CEO of Wynn Resorts Limited, has characterized Curtatone’s efforts as “selfish” and has steadfastly resolved to see the project through to completion.

At Thursday’s hearing, both sides questioned one another’s expert witnesses, consultants and representatives.

Consulting city attorney Donald Pinto stated that the decision to grant the casino an 85-year environmental license was “fatally flawed.” He stressed that the decision to grant the lease was based on public pressure rather than a thoroughly researched study of the impact the resort would have on the region.

City spokesman Denise Taylor has estimated that the cost of the legal actions against the Wynn complex is in excess of $400,00 at this point in time.

Representatives of the Wynn Everett resort declined public comment.

Closing briefs by both sides must be filed by June 21. A decision on the appeal is expected to be made by mid-July, and a final ruling on the matter would follow soon after, approximately three weeks later.