P&Z nixes motocross proposal
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May 17, 2013 |
The Boundary County Planning and Zoning
Commission faced a packed house Thursday evening
for a public hearing on a proposed motocross
track on Smith Lake Road, about equally divided
pro and con, but in the end the application was
denied.
So packed, people filled not only the courtroom
pews or stood, but filled the jury box as well.
"It was a brilliant idea," said county zoning
administrator Dan Studer, "but in the wrong
place."
Proposed by John Becker, Bonners Ferry, the 9B
Motoplex, located on a little over 21-acres just
north of the Templeman Lake Road intersection,
would have become the first motocross racing
complex in North Idaho north of Interstate 90,
offering up to 12 weekend racing events a year
between May and October.
It would have offered parking, camping,
concessions and more.
Those in favor cited the popularity of motocross
in Boundary County, with entire families
travelling for miles to compete or watch. Having
a place for such an event here at home, they
maintained, would be an economic boon as well as
an addition to recreational opportunities in the
community.
Opponents, however, said the noise and traffic
would be unbearable.
"People who go to Smith Lake for the weekend and
those who live there enjoy the peace and quiet,"
Studer said. "They go to relax."
While noise played a big role in the
commission's decision, it was safety concerns on
Smith Lake Road that sealed the decision to deny
the application.
"There are several places on the road that
narrow to a single lane, and there's no way to
upgrade the road to accommodate the anticipated
traffic," Studer said. "The events were expected
to draw hundreds of people each weekend, most
towing trailers or in RVs. There would be no way
to safely evacuate in the event of an emergency,
and having all those vehicles leaving at once on
a Sunday afternoon, most turning left on Highway
95, would pose unacceptable risk."
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