The owners of Hickory Ridge Motorsport Park in Warren County have been granted broader operating freedom by Warren County’s Planning and Zoning Commission.

George and Dana Heath, the owners of the mud bog and truck pull track on Highway B southwest of Pendleton, petitioned the planning commission in October to reduce restrictions on the number of events and amount of spectators allowed at the facility. They also sought an end to a two-year renewal requirement on their conditional use permit (CUP), and permission to conduct merchandise sales.

During a public meeting Nov. 21, the planning commission granted all four requests. Commission members voted 8-0 to approve the changes to the Hickory Ridge CUP.

Hickory Ridge will now be allowed to host 10 motorsport events per year, up from five. However, the events can only take place across a total of five weekends, meaning they need to be held on two consecutive days at a time. Also, only one weekend in any given month can be used for an event.

The planning commission expanded the number of spectators and participants allowed at the facility from 500 to 1,500. Planning and Zoning Administrator Vickie Vohsen previously reported that the venue has ample room for more people.

Nearby property owners along Highway B have opposed the motorsport track since it was first proposed in 2016. After residents voiced strong concerns about the business, the planning commission in 2016 put an expiration on the Hickory Ridge CUP, forcing the Heaths to renew their permit every two years. The measure was a safeguard to observe the impacts of the business on surrounding property owners.

Planning commission members now seem satisfied that the mud runs and truck pulls can continue indefinitely under the other safeguards and not pose an unacceptable nuisance to surrounding properties. A number of public safety officials testified in October that the events have been well organized and caused no concerns other than a few noise and traffic complaints.

The newly approved CUP includes no expiration.

Planning commission member David Heinlein clarified that even without the renewal requirement, the Heaths will have to return for a new hearing if they want to make any future changes to their business or add new events.

The Heaths’ company, MSA Heath LLC, first received a CUP for the Hickory Ridge facility in 2016. However, the first events at the track only began this year, delayed by two years of unsuccessful court challenges from other Highway B property owners.

A group of residents strongly oppose the track because of fears about noise and a dangerous increase in traffic on Highway B. After going through four events this year, a number of them said the roar of vehicles ruins the enjoyment of their peaceful properties.

“Every time you grant (MSA Heath) more of anything, you’re taking away the rights from the rest of us, the neighbors that are impacted by the extreme noise,” one property owner testified in October. “When you buy a home in the country, you have a rightful expectation to peace and quiet.”

As a consideration for property owners who said they have had weekend plans spoiled by truck noise, the planning commission added a requirement for the Heaths to notify nearby neighbors two weeks prior to each event. That way, neighbors can at least plan around them.

Opponents of the decision to lighten restrictions on Hickory Ridge have a limited time to appeal the ruling. Appeals can be filed at the Warren County Clerk’s Office until Dec. 2.