Racetrack hearing postponed again

HASTINGS, Neb. -- A public hearing on a potential new casino and racetrack in Hastings has been put on hold as it appears to have failed to get support from the city for now. 

The Hastings Planning Commission was scheduled to discuss the proposal by Prairie Thunder Hastings, but developers have requested that the hearing be postponed 30 days. 

The agenda for Tuesday's meeting showed a recommendation to deny the developer's request for rezoning. 

City officials said location is a big factor in a project like this. 

"If something looks like it's maybe not going to work, we try and give recommendations of, you know, how to make it work," said Lisa Parnell-Rowe, director of Development Services for the City of Hastings. "We want to see more development in Hastings."

City staff said in documents that they were recommending against the project in part because of concerns about the existing flood plain in the southeast corner of the property.