County asked to stop motocross track


By DAVID CLOUSTON

Salina Journal

The majority of speakers addressing Saline County commissioners Tuesday night did not want to see a motocross track approved for the Prairie Harbor Golf Course west of Salina, and they had multiple reasons why.

Their homes and property would suffer from the extra noise from the motorcycles and ATVs, traffic on Interstate Highway 70 adjacent to the course would be put at risk from dust raised, and the added traffic to and from the facility could be hazardous to children attending nearby Ell-Saline Elementary School, just south on Halstead Road.

Richard Rassmusen, 1927 N. Halstead, told commissioners it doesn't make sense that because a group of motocross enthusiasts want the track, that their desires should carry more weight than him and other homeowners in the area who are strongly opposed.

"Does that condemn me to the rest of my life owning that house that I can't go outside because of the noise?" Rassmusen asked. "They're not going to tell me I'm not going to hear the noise."

Tuesday night's hearing at the City-County Building, which drew a standing-room only crowd in the commission meeting room, was to receive comments regarding an appeal of a decision by the county's Planning and Zoning Commission to grant a conditional use permit for the motocross track to operate, with race events starting in May.

Decision in early April

County commissioners took all of Tuesday's public comments and supporting documents under advisement. They plan to review the information and announce their decision on the appeal at their April 6 meeting.

The planning commission had two public hearings on the permit request earlier this year before voting 5-2, with one abstention, in favor of a motion to approve the request.

The 21-acre facility would change its name to Prairie Harbor Recreation if the permit is approved. Activities there would include motocross riding and racing, mountain biking, all-terrain vehicle riding and similar events. The facility would be operated by Andrew Hammond, whose grandparents, Gary and Mary Gleason, own the property at 2002 N. Halstead, adjacent to and south of I-70.

In order to overturn the recommendation by the planning commission, county commissioners would have to vote unanimously against giving the facility a conditional use permit. To uphold the planning commission's recommendation takes only a majority vote.

Track opponents speaking Tuesday included Salina attorney Bob Wasko, who represented a group of county residents, all wearing red shirts.

No noise ordinance

Wasko noted that the county has no noise ordinance. Yet it does have a provision concerning wind turbine farms that mandates that people living within 1,500 feet of a turbine have to give their consent for the turbine to be installed. The ordinance also restricts the noise exposure from turbines at no more than 60 decibels for residential property owners living near the facility, and 65 decibels in commercial zones. Local ordinances in other states have limited the noise from motocross tracks to an 80 decibel limit.

"Why would we permit a motocross, which is a recreational facility, to have less standards than a commercial entity, which produces energy that everybody in this county uses?" Wasko asked commissioners.

Told not to be there

Gary Gleason told commissioners that more supporters of the track would have attended the meeting in greater numbers, but he told some not to attend so that the commission could hear from others on the issue.

The track schedule would allow it to operate in following years from March to November. The facility would be open every Saturday, most Wednesdays and 13 Sundays. Saturdays would be either open to the public for off-road recreation or to members of racing groups for practice before a Sunday race event.

Wednesday activities would alternate between mountain bike riding and remote-controlled cars, or off-road recreation, including ATVs and go-carts.

The facility would be closed during December, January and February.

Smolan resident Clint O'Farrell spoke in support of the facility, saying his family would welcome the chance to have a track closer to home to attend. The family rides motocross on weekends at other tracks statewide.

Aiding child abuductors

O'Farrell also responded to remarks earlier by Ell-Saline Superintendent Jerry Minneman. Minneman told commissioners that the crowds drawn to the facility might entice a would-be child abductor to blend in and try to target a child at the school.

"I've got two and that's really all I want right now," O'Farrell said, to the accompaniment of a few light chuckles. "That one gets me."

Jon Richards, 2404 N. Halstead, said he spoke for 21 of 24 property owners living within the 1,500 feet notification area of the Prairie Harbor property. He said the noise from the motorcycles on the track would not be infrequent or occasional. There would also be a public address system at the facility, which he said would have to be louder than the motorcycles, to be heard by spectators.

n Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.





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