KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Keene’s zoning board tackled a trio of notable development issues Tuesday night, approving plans that could reshape entertainment on both Key Road and Main Street while delaying action on a long-vacant downtown property.

Casino eyes move to Key Road

Revo Casino, the city’s only charitable gaming hall, is one step closer to leaving its Emerald Street space for a larger home on Key Road. The board approved a waiver that clears the way for the business to occupy a building purchased last year by Manchester developer Dick Anagnost.

Anagnost, who owns the casino with his son, told the board the plaza’s proximity to hotels and major roadways makes it an attractive spot. He said the relocation could happen within 12 to 18 months and would allow for future expansion.

The waiver was necessary because Keene’s ordinance requires casinos to sit at least 250 feet from residential properties. Brookbend West, an affordable housing complex owned by Keene Housing, is just 170 feet away. Board members weighed that distance carefully, but Anagnost emphasized the casino entrance does not face the apartments and activity at the rear of the building would remain minimal.

Josh Meehan, Keene Housing’s executive director, said the organization has no objections to the move. Revo, he noted, already directs some of its state-mandated charitable donations to the Keene Housing Kids Collaborative.

The board also confirmed the proposal satisfies the city’s other siting rules, adopted in December, which limit gaming facilities near schools, day cares and places of worship. Revo’s current downtown site does not meet those standards but remains legal under a grandfather clause.

Colonial Theatre wins approval for sign upgrade

The city’s best-known performance venue also received a green light. The Colonial Theatre will replace its old-fashioned letter board with a digital sign designed to improve safety for staff and reduce maintenance.

The project preserves the marquee’s historic look, including its bold “Colonial” lettering and rows of lightbulbs, while eliminating the need for employees to climb ladders to change messages by hand.

Electronic message boards are generally banned in Keene because of concerns about distracting drivers, zoning staff noted. To address that, the board’s approval came with a strict condition: the new sign cannot display flashing, scrolling or animated text.

Cobblestone site decision postponed

The board was also scheduled to consider an extension request for redevelopment of the former Cobblestone Ale House property, destroyed by fire in early 2022. Developer Mike Pappas previously secured permission to construct a new mixed-use building there with a drive-thru, an exception in that part of downtown.

But with no representative at Tuesday’s session, the zoning board postponed the request until its Oct. 6 meeting.