Pinnacle resort to go before Planning Commission

Pinnacle Entertainment’s plans for a 576-acre resort at River Road and Gardere Lane are scheduled to go before the Planning Commission on Monday afternoon. The casino company is submitting its concept plan for the property, which follows the concepts East Baton Rouge Parish voters approved in early 2008. Las Vegas-based Pinnacle plans to develop the site in four stages over an extended period of time. The first phase would involve a 169,000-square-foot riverboat casino and a 100-room hotel. The second phase calls for development of a 13.6-acre village green, which would be the center of the overall development. The third phase involves building a second 100-room hotel on the other side of River Road, along with 137,500 square feet of office space, retail space and 240 townhomes. The final phase consists of a golf course, an equestrian center and 430 single-family homes. The Planning Commission staff says it recommends approval of the concept plan, pending some road construction, such as extending Bluebonnet Boulevard to River Road and building a road that connects part of the development to River Road, Gardere and Bluebonnet extension.