In re Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.

542 B.R. 72, 2015 Bankr. LEXIS 4036, 2015 WL 7753916
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. New York
DecidedNovember 30, 2015
DocketCase No. 12-43503-CEC
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 542 B.R. 72 (In re Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., 542 B.R. 72, 2015 Bankr. LEXIS 4036, 2015 WL 7753916 (N.Y. 2015).

Opinion

DECISION

CARLA E. CRAIG, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge

This matter comes before the Court on the applications of Suffolk Regional OffTrack Betting Corporation (“Suffolk OTB” or the “Debtor”) for an Order to Show Cause why the Town of Brookhaven and the State of New York Should Not Accept Building Permit and Related Applications From the Adjusted Debtor, and an Order to Show Cause why Suffolk County Should Not Accept Building Permit and Related Applications From the Adjusted Debtor. Suffolk OTB seeks an order requiring the Town of Brookhaven, the State of New York, and/or the County of Suffolk (the “County”) to consider its application for a building permit and related applications regarding the siting and construction of its proposed video lottery terminal facility (the ‘VLT Facility”) in the Town of Brook-haven (“Brookhaven”), and, if appropriate, to issue the required permits. The VLT Facility is to be built in order to implement Suffolk OTB’s confirmed plan in this case.

Suffolk OTB’s motion is granted for the reasons and to the extent set forth herein.

JURISDICTION

This Court has jurisdiction of this core proceeding pursuant to the terms of Suffolk OTB’s confirmed plan, 11 U.S.C. §§ 945(a) and 1142(b), 28 U.S.C. § 157, 28 U.S.C. § 1334, and the Eastern District of New York standing order of reference dated August 28, 1986, as amended by order dated December 5, 2012. This decision constitutes the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law to the extent required by Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7052.

[76]*76 BACKGROUND

On May 11, 2012, Suffolk OTB filed a petition for relief under Chapter 9 of 11 U.S.C. §§ 101, et seq. (the “Bankruptcy Code”). Suffolk OTB is a public benefit corporation organized under Articles V and VI of the New York Racing, PariMutuel Wagering and Breeding Law (the “Racing Law”). (2d Am. Disclosure Statement at 13, ECF No. 298.)1 Suffolk OTB was formed on October 7,1974 pursuant to a vote of the County legislature on April 22, 1970 that made the County a “participating county” in Suffolk OTB under Racing Law §§ 501 & 502. (2d Am. Disclosure Statement at 14, ECF No. 298; N.Y. Rac. Parimut. Wag. & Breed. Law §§ 501 and 502.) The County is responsible for the management of Suffolk OTB, and appoints the three board members of Suffolk OTB. (2d Am. Disclosure Statement at 14, ECF No. 298.) The County is also one of the primary beneficiaries of Suffolk OTB’s activities. (2d Am. Disclosure Statement at 13, ECF No. 298.) The County has appeared in the case and is a creditor of Suffolk OTB. (County’s Resp. at 2-3, ECF No. 232.)

The VLT Facility is critical to Suffolk OTB’s efforts to adjust its debts and emerge from bankruptcy. (Order to Show Cause ¶ 13, ECF No. 368; 2d Am. Plan at 1-2, ECF No. 318.) On October 31, 2014, the Court entered an order confirming the Second Amended Chapter 9 Plan (the “Plan”). (Order, ECF No. 326.) The Plan provides for construction of the VLT Facility, and the funding and feasibility of the Plan depends on its revenues. (Order at 9, ECF No. 326; 2d Am. Plan at 1-2, ECF No. 318.) The Plan also provides that the Court shall retain exclusive jurisdiction to the fullest extent permitted by law to “take any action and issue such orders as may be necessary to construe, enforce, implement, execute, and consummate the Plan.” (2d Am. Plan at 37-39, ECF No. 318.) Suffolk OTB has already acquired the real estate to build the VLT Facility, obtained the necessary financing, commenced the required environmental review, and completed the design documents. (Order to Show Cause ¶¶ 17-19, ECF No. 368; Letter at 4, Case No. 12-43503, ECF No. 366.) Before Suffolk OTB can proceed any further with construction of the VLT Facility, it must complete the administrative process required for the relevant authority to issue a building permit, and before it can operate the VLT Facility, it must have a certificate of occupancy. (Order to Show Cause ¶¶ 19, 21, ECF No. 368; Letter at 3-4, ECF No. 365.) It must also complete the review required under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQR”). (County’s Mem. of Law in Opp’n at 6-7, ECF No. 451; see N.Y. Envtl. Conserv. Law § 8-0101 et seq. and 6 N.YC.R.R. 617.1 et seq.)

Suffolk OTB was granted authority to construct the VLT Facility under New York Tax Law 1617-a(a)(4). That law provides that Suffolk OTB may establish a facility containing a maximum of 1,000 video lottery terminals. N.Y. Tax Law § 1617-a(a)(4). Such facility must be located within a facility authorized pursuant to Racing Law §§ 1008 or 1009. Id. Suffolk OTB has proposed to build the VLT Facility as part of a simulcast facility authorized under Racing Law §§ 1008 and 1003. (Order to Show Cause ¶ 50, ECF No. 238.)

Suffolk OTB first approached Brookha-ven, where the VLT Facility will be located, to seek site plan approval and a building permit in June 2014. (Letter at 5, [77]*77ECF No. 365; Aff. of Anthony Pancella ¶ 4, ECF No. 454.) In October 2014, Suffolk OTB purchased the property where it proposes to build the VLT Facility. (Aff. of Anthony Pancella ¶ 4, ECF No. 454.) Suffolk OTB filed its site plan and land use application with Brookhaven, along with filing fees of $30,903.83, on November 24, 2014. (Aff. of Anthony Pancella ¶ 7, ECF No. 454.) Brookhaven, however, ultimately refused to accept the applications, taking the position that it “did not have discretionary power to approve or disapprove the project, and, pursuant to state statute, had no power to grant site plan approval.” (Order to Show Cause ¶ 33, ECF No. 368.)

Suffolk OTB then approached the New York Gaming Commission (the “Gaming Commission”) and the New York Office of General Services (“OGS” collectively, the “State”) to request the issuance of a building permit. (Order to Show Cause ¶ 36, ECF No. 368.) Both agencies, however, refused to entertain any application for a building permit, stating that they lacked authority to do so. (Order to Show Cause ¶ 43, ECF No. 368.)

Suffolk OTB also requested that the State take lead agency status for SEQR review. (Aff. of Anthony Pancella ¶ 9, ECF No. 454.) The State ultimately declined, however, stating that it could not be the lead agency for SEQR review because Suffolk OTB is not a state agency. (Letter at 6-7, ECF No. 366.) Suffolk OTB then declared its intention to serve as the lead agency for the SEQR review process and has retained a consultant to complete the process. (Aff. of Anthony Pancella ¶¶ 10-11, ECF No. 454.)

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542 B.R. 72, 2015 Bankr. LEXIS 4036, 2015 WL 7753916, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-suffolk-regional-off-track-betting-corp-nyeb-2015.