Gaming Organizers Set to Present Towne Center Plans in May

PokerTek’s plans to set up shop in Towne Center are still in place, despite the company’s request that the item be removed from the April 2 Planning Commission agenda.

“We asked for a continuance,” PokerTek representative, David Harbarger, of Fifth Street Entertainment in Cleveland, said April 1. “It’s routine.”

Initial plans for the April 2 Avon Lake Planning Commission were for a conditional use permit for the site Blockbuster Video previously inhabited.

PokerTek operates charity gaming sites. Charities can host the events for a four to five-day festival, receiving the bulk of the net proceeds. Anyone in the public, over the age of 21, can enter the café to play.

Harbarger said only five of the seven Planning Commission members would be present at Tuesday’s meeting.

“We wanted to be able to answer all their questions,” Harbarger said.

Since PokerTek’s organizers are not all in close proximity, including one who will be coming up from North Carolina, the group wanted to make sure issues could be addressed in front of the largest planning commission group.

“We’re scheduled to be on the May 7 (Planning Commission) agenda.