How much say would Saugerties have over the development?
Little, if any. If the land becomes sovereign Seneca-Cayuga territory, in effect it is a separate nation and exempt from all local, state and federal statutes including zoning, environmental and no-smoking laws. The tribe may agree to some restrictions such as paying state taxes — to get the necessary compact passed by the State Legislature, but Saugerties itself has no such leverage legally. There is a possibility that the county legislature may have veto power over a casino site: State Senator John Bonacic has said that Governor Pataki has promised to include that provision in any legislation.
