Mayor Michael J. McGlynn and other Medford officials on Monday will meet with representatives of Wynn Resorts of Las Vegas to discuss the developer's proposal to build a $1.2 billion resort casino in Everett.
The development proposed for the former Monsanto chemical factory on the Mystic River would be located less than a mile from the MBTA Wellington station in Medford, where busy routes 16 and 28 intersect.
"I hope traffic is part of their presentation," McGlynn said on Friday afternoon. "From all the people I have talked to, that's still their number one concern."
A representative of Wynn Resorts could not immediately be reached on Friday.
The meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Hyatt Place, a hotel on Riverside Avenue, located behind Medford City Hall.
McGlynn and city councilors have been sharply critical of the proposed the Wynn project, which would include a 551-room hotel, upscale restaurants, shops and passive recreation areas for the public.
The potential impact on traffic, crime and local businesses are among Medford's top concerns. The council voted last month to send a letter to the state's gambling commission, reiterating its opposition.
Wynn is one of three developers that have applied to the commission for the one resort casino license available for Greater Boston. The company, led by casino mogul Steve Wynn, faces competition from two other casino projects. One is proposed for the Suffolk Downs thoroughbred race track on the Revere/East Boston line, and the other is proposed for vacant industrial land off I-495 in Milford.
The commission is expected to award the license in 2014.
The state's gambling law requires developers to negotiate with surrounding communities, to minimize any impacts the development could have on that community. McGlynn has met with ML Strategies, a Boston firm advising Wynn on community negotiations, but formal negotiations have not yet started, he said.
"I told them we should get everyone together for a meeting, and once we know what all the issues are, then we can start negotiating," McGlynn said.
Medford residents are encouraged to attend Monday's meeting, the mayor said. "This is a chance for them to come and be heard," McGlynn said.
Residents can e-mail comments or concerns about the project to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Everett voters on June 22 overwhelmingly approved a referendum, allowing a casino to be located in the city. The referendum is a key part of the state’s gambling law. But the law does not allow a surrounding community that might be impacted by the casino, such as Medford, to hold a referendum. It does require developers negotiate with them to mitigate potential impacts.
Kathy McCabe can be reached at
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