Penn National Gaming’s development plan for the Hollywood Dayton Raceway got unanimous support from the City Plan Board on Tuesday.

The seven-member board recommended the City Commission approve Penn’s application to amend the city zoning map to allow for construction of a racino on 119 acres at the southwest corner of Needmore and Wagner Ford roads. The plan will be presented to the City Commission for final consideration at 6 p.m. on Jan. 16.

“This is really a significant step in the process. Obviously, the Planning Commission approval is something we needed to move forward,” Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman of Penn National said.” We hope the City Commission feels the same way.”

Penn wants to break ground early next year and open the racino in 2014.

The project would feature a harness racetrack, an up-to-150,000-square-foot gaming building with a simulcast theater for on- and off-track wagering, self-bet/full bet mutual service stations and theater and box seating.

The clubhouse will have a sports bar with full-service, terraced and concourse dining. Hollywood Dayton also will have a live entertainment stage and miscellaneous food and beverage outlets.

The racino is expected to create 1,000 jobs at the facility or related businesses and 1,000 construction jobs throughout the life of the project.

“What we have seen with our other facilities…this really can serve as an economic development driver,” Tenenbaum said.

The construction costs are estimated at $125 million. The racetrack relocation fee is $75 million and the video lottery terminal operator fee is $50 million.

The first step in construction will be demolition of the foundation of the former Delphi plant, which can be done during the winter. Penn has applied for a city permit to do that. Environmental assessments, supervised by the city, also are under way.

While a major step forward, obstacles still remain for Penn. The gaming company’s applications to state commissions to relocate Raceway Park from Toledo to Dayton and to become a video lottery sales agent still are pending. And, a hearing date has not been set on an appeal of a court ruling against an anti-gambling organization that is questioning Gov. John Kasich’s authority to allow video lottery terminals at racetracks.