"All of the land was acquired in several parcels that traverseTobyhanna and Pocono townships and the Borough of Mount Pocono," aMatzel spokesman tells GlobeSt.com. "The legal separation of thisportion represents the first step in the overall approval process."It clears the way for submission of the site plan application tothe Tobyhanna board. Andrew Bennett, regional manager for PennoniAssociates Inc., the developer's engineering firm, says he plans tosubmit the plan within the next 60 to 90 days.

Greg Matzel, president of Matzel, previously announced plans toconstruct a temporary gaming facility to accommodate 1,500 slotmachines within nine months of obtaining a license. Later, the100,000-sf temporary building would be converted into a 6,000-seatarena.

The entire Pocono Manor Resort & Casino development,projected to cost about $1.4 billion, is the largest of the gamingplans submitted to the state for a category 2 license. The fullplans encompass a 750-room hotel, a 120,000-sf convention center, a1,800-seat theater, 36 holes of golf, a 12-acre man-made lake, ninerestaurants and five nightclubs, among other amenities.