BOSTON -- A 200-acre tract of land in Milford is being eyed as the site of a new resort-style casino development in Massachusetts, but not everyone in the town is cheering the news.

NewsCenter 5’s Amalia Barreda reported that Colorado developer David Nunes is believed to be looking at a site off Route 495 in the northeast corner of Milford for his proposed casino.

Local pizza shop owner Alex Voyiatzis said he opposes the idea of a gambling casino in Milford, or anywhere else in Massachusetts.

“I think for every job that they create they destroy thousands of lives from people that are weak and they don't have control over their financial situations,” said Voyiatzis.

Others, however, said that with momentum on Beacon Hill shifting in favor of new casinos, the town might as well take advantage of the potential benefits.

“I'm not a fan of gambling and I don't gamble myself, but I think it's inevitable that gambling is going to come to Massachusetts, and why not here?” asked Truman Hix, of Milford.

“They may help the economy a little bit, but I don't think they help the people,” contended resident Edward Hollister. “How does it hurt people? They spend their money that they don't have.”

The town's attorney said Nunes first approached local officials about one year ago about the project.

“Monday night they're going to come forward to the board of selectmen and to the public and provide, we presume, a lot more detailed information about what they have in mind,” said Milford town councilor Gerry Moody, “when and if the legislature and the governor decide what they're going to do about gambling.”

Efforts to bring a resort-style casino like Foxwoods to Massachusetts foundered in the past, largely because former house speaker Sal DiMasi was opposed to the idea.

Current house speaker Robert DeLeo indicated for the first time last month that he would support a casino facility in the state, and Gov. Deval Patrick and Sen. President Therese Murray have both backed large casinos as a way to generate revenue and jobs.

Now that DiMasi is no longer in power, state Sen. Richard Moore said the equation on Beacon Hill has changed.

“(DeLeo’s) support, or at least openness to the concept is one less hurdle that the advocates need to get over,” said Moore.

Legislators will take up the Milford casino proposal at a hearing scheduled for Oct. 29 on more than a dozen proposals related to expanded gaming in Massachusetts.