Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Motorsports facility gets green light for zone change

Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jdendinger@news-bulletin.com

A zone change request that has been dragging on since July was finally put to rest by the county commission Wednesday evening.

On a 4-1 vote, the commission approved the request of Route 66 Community Multiplex, Inc. to change the zoning of 326 acres on the county's east mesa.

The property was zoned as Outland District. The commission's decision changed that to Commercial 2 (C-2) with a conditional use to allow for the operation of a motorsports facility.

The request has been before the county planning and zoning commission and was, at one time, unanimously recommended for approval, tabled and finally sent up to the county commission with a 3-0 recommendation for denial. Two planning and zoning board members abstained from the vote.

County Commissioner Lynette Pinkston made a motion for approval of the zone change request with the conditional use. Commissioner Georgia Otero-Kirkham seconded the motion.

Otero-Kirkham said that, based on the turnout from the commission's public hearing last week, there were a lot of people in favor of the zone change and the proposed complex.

"My main concern was objections from people living in the area," she said. "But the people in Meadow Lake and El Cerro Mission didn't express any issues with it."

Commissioner Ron Gentry said that while the presentation of the project was very interesting, he had looked at the request from a procedural point of view.

"The issue of standing, I believe is at the discretion of the commissioner in the case of a non-owner petition," he said. "I am concerned that a fine model has been put before us, we'll change the zoning and that model will disappear."

Route 66 has not completed the purchase of the property but does hold an option on it.

Since a conditional use would be attached to the property after the permanent zone change, Gentry requested two conditions be attached to the approval of the change.

"I would like to see the acquisition of the property tied to the approval and that substantial construction be recognized within five years," the commissioner said. "That way any approval is tied to that project, that property and shows that these people are sincere."

Pinkston did not offer to amend her motion for approval to include Gentry's proposed conditions.

Commission Chair Pedro Rael said he had considered the request based on the pros and cons of the program itself and not necessarily the procedure.

"There was a lot of information presented — consideration of the effects of the project on existing ranching and a planned airpark," he said. "I do have some concerns, but I'm not sure how much we can condition this project. I am inclined to let it go forward and see if they can do it. I think overall it will be a benefit to the community."

When Rael called for the vote, Gentry cast the sole no vote.

The draft site plan for the complex submitted by Route 66 shows three drag strips, a three-eighths of a mile oval dirt track, a one-third of a mile paved oval, an event center, motorsport museum, restaurant-lounge and educational complex.

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