According to Planning and Zoning Administrator Bill Roemer, the applicants for the proposed track, Robert and Alexis Alberternst, filed an appeal following the Warren County Planning and Zoning Commission’s vote rejecting a conditional use permit for the proposed track on March 19.
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The Warren County Commission will now get to decide whether a proposed racetrack at 22245 Lix Road will get a green light after all.
According to Planning and Zoning Administrator Bill Roemer, the applicants for the proposed track, Robert and Alexis Alberternst, filed an appeal following the Warren County Planning and Zoning Commission’s vote rejecting a conditional use permit for the proposed track on March 19. According to Roemer the matter will now be heard by the commissioners on Thursday, April 30, at 6 p.m. at the Warren County Administration Building.
The appeal follows a meeting March 19, where the planning and zoning commission voted 4-2 with one abstaining against a conditional use permit for the proposed track on the Alberternst’s 27.38 acre property on Lix Road. The March meeting followed a previous meeting from Feb. 19 before the planning and zoning commission where the matter was tabled to get more information regarding parking on the property and the sound to be created by vehicles on the racetrack.
During the Feb. 19 meeting, the couple proposed a race track they are calling Goon Speedway. During that meeting several residents spoke up both for and against the proposed track, with those against the track citing a number of issues including noise coming from the track, dust and fuel discharge, and the environmental and health impacts. Other issues included lack of transparency by the Alberternsts and the effect it would have on resident’s enjoyment of their nearby properties.
Others spoke in favor of the track, citing such benefits as the economic impact to the community and opportunities for area children to have something to do.
There were no public comments allowed at the March 19 meeting as it was scheduled simply for the planning and zoning commission to make a decision. Roemer said that the meeting April 30 will be a meeting that allows public comment before the county commissioners.
The proposed track would be a dirt track approximately 320 feet long and 180 feet wide. While the original plan proposed racing from April to November two to three days a week, the proposal ultimately was cut down to perhaps only one day per week. As the approval wasn’t originally granted in February, any potential start date for the facility if approved is also uncertain.
The track would consist of small car racing only including micros, flat karts, winged karts, junior wing cars and quarter midget vehicles.
During the presentation Feb. 19, the couple said that they would have fencing around the track as that is a requirement under their insurance policy.
The track would be lit by directional LED lighting which is designed in such a way as to ensure the lights focus only on the track with no light spillage.
