New Race Track Central Calif

[Rick Parker]

This following story in its entirety is taken from the Merced Sun Star Newpaper: Decision time is getting very close!

This project is to be very similar in layout to the old Riverside Raceway in Southern California. It will also include a NHRA ranked Drag strip, and other smaller tracks too.
Fingers are crossed!

MERCED — In one of the longest and most emotionally charged public hearings in recent county history, hundreds of people packed the Merced County Board of Supervisors chambers on Tuesday to voice their opinions on the proposed Riverside Motorsports Park.
Ninety-nine people testified before the board during the 12-hour hearing, which extended past 10 p.m. and at points drew tearful pleas from local residents.

"People say they support this project and that they think it's a wonderful thing, but I wonder if they'd be willing to give up their homes for this," said John Grace, who lives and farms on land near the raceway's planned site.

"For my family, it's not worth it," said Grace, whose voice shook as he told the board he believes noise, traffic and pollution from the project will destroy his family's way of life and sink the value of his property.

The hearing marked the public's final opportunity to speak for or against the construction of the auto racing venue, which is set to cover 1,200 acres near Castle Airport, before the Board of Supervisors votes in December whether to approve or deny the project.

Air pollution a concern

Many waited hours for a five-minute opportunity to speak before the board about what some consider the most controversial project in local history.

"This is my one shot at democracy, and I wasn't going to waste it," said Cressey-area resident Randy Hultgren, who arrived at the board's chambers before the doors opened at 9:30 a.m. and didn't speak until 5:30 p.m.

Hultgren, who said he missed work to attend the hearing, held up pictures of his children while he spoke, imploring the board to deny the project.

"I wanted the board to see just whose health is at stake if they approve this," said Hultgren, referring to air pollution that environmental consultants say the raceway will generate.

In addition to filling the board's chambers well into the evening, people packed two adjacent overflow rooms to watch live broadcasts of the hearing.

Proponents of the raceway pointed to its projected economic benefits, which include the creation of 150 full-time jobs, 525 part-time jobs, a $70 million annual payroll and $3.7 million to the city of Merced in annual sales tax revenue, according to an economic study conducted by the Fluor Corp.

Steve Newvine, president of the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce, said Merced's high unemployment figures put the county in no position to turn away jobs.

"The chamber believes the Riverside Motorsports Park is a smart investment for this county," Newvine said.

Doug Fluetsch, of the Merced Booster Club, countered raceway opponents who said at the hearing that Merced doesn't need more low-wage or part-time jobs.

"We don't just need jobs for college graduates. We need jobs for everyone in this county," Fluetsch said.

CEO says claims 'unfounded'

Others pointed to the recreational opportunities the raceway promises, both for participants and spectators.

Project proponents also touted the raceway's proposed program to allow nonprofessional drivers to use its track and drag strip, saying it would provide local teenagers with a safe alternative to dangerous and illegal street racing.

While members of the business and racing communities voiced the strongest support for the project, farmers and ranchers who own property near the raceway's proposed site voiced the strongest opposition.

Several farm owners expressed concern that increased traffic from the thousands of visitors expected at the park each weekend will clog surrounding rural roads. Many said they feared noise and traffic from the raceway could put them out of business.

"We are a community that didn't ask to be impacted," said Stacey Machado, whose family owns a cattle ranch adjacent to the raceway's planned site. "We're talking about our entire livelihood here."

Others opposed to the raceway criticized reports on its projected environmental impacts as incomplete and misleading.

Many urged the board not to consider a project that would worsen Merced's already poor air quality.

Raceway CEO John Condren, who also spoke during the hearing, said he doesn't believe the raceway will harm nearby businesses or residents.

"We've heard a lot of misrepresentations based on other people's interpretations and rumors, not on the actual documents," Condren said. "Many of these claims being made are completely unfounded."

At the hearing's end, all five members of the Board of Supervisors asked county staff to further research issues raised by the public, including traffic management plans for Palm Avenue and the impacts on neighboring businesses and land values.

The $230 million motorsports venue is planned to include eight racing venues, a shopping mall, restaurants, a lake and an arcade. It's expected to draw as many as 50,000 people on some weekends. If it's approved, the raceway is expected to open in 2008.

The Board of Supervisors will vote to approve or deny the project on Dec. 12.

[Jamo]

This is why Atwater is...well, Atwater.

They complained about losing the SAC base...I guess the noise, pollution and traffic from Castle AFB that was ok.

It would be cool if this goes through.

[barabar]

I live in Merced, and yes, I farm, and yes I'm for the race track.
My Cobra build will be done by 08. So the way I see it the cobra and the track will be finished at the same time. Or you could say they are building the track for my cobra.
I'm so excited and I just can't hide it I'm about to have a track built for my cobra and I don't have to buy it.

[Ron61]

It has been a long time since I was in Merced or any of the places around the Fresno area, but I don't think a track would contribute that much to the air quality. After all, it won't be running 24 hours a day 7 days a week like the freeways and highways do. Also if it will open up and draw the kids off the streets to race that should be a good thing. They used to have that near Vacaville and they had a huge amount of cars from all over the area that came to run at the track instead of stop light to stop light. I actually enjoyed watching those races as much as the regular scheduled ones as anyone could challenge anyone.

Ron