The Virginia state lottery approved The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise’s Petersburg casino plans, moving the proposal to its final hurdle before reaching a local voter referendum, the Petersburg Progress-Index reported.

The Petersburg City Council now plans to issue a request for approval from the Petersburg Circuit Court to hold a referendum on November 5 to give the okay for the casino.

A meeting by the city council is scheduled for Monday to green-light the request to the court.

Plans by the Cordish partnership called PPE Casino Resorts Petersburg call for a nearly $600 million two-phase development just off Interstate 95 in the southern part of the city.

The first phase would carry a $142.5m price tag and would include a temporary casino to open within a year of voter approval. The second phase would include the permanent casino, five-star hotel, restaurants and entertainment venue.

https://www.intergameonline.com/casino/news/cordish-cos-petersburg-plans-advance