7.1 SR 07-05-2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Email received from the City Administrator from Princeton As to the Speedway, someone, somewhere usually complains about the Speedway at least once or twice per year. Sometimes, its people that aren't even living immediately adjacent to the grounds. The Speedway has a curfew, it's 11 pm, but they have four nights per season (20 weeks long) that they can go longer. If they plan to go long and know a head of time, they are required to inform the city. One of those times is always the Fair Friday since they get more racers then. For Princeton, track conditions dictate how well the races go; races with fewer cautions get done quicker — this year we haven't had any complaints (that I know of) because we have finished between 10 and 10:30 pm. Last year, they ran over curfew on several nights; the police department just comes and tells the promoter to move things along. Other than the curfew, there are no mitigation measures in place. I would be careful requiring mitigation; depending on what it is, it can "bounce" the sound thereby impacting others farther away from the event — MNDoT experienced that with their sound walls along the highway. Mature vegetation will absorb much of the sound, but that takes time to grow if they have removed it from the site. Surprisingly, wind also affects where sound travels. As an aside, doing a noise study likely won't help your cause. The noise standards are measured a distance from the actual machine, not at the property line; by the time you get the measuring device at the property line, the noise is usually within allowable standards, especially if everything that is running is properly mufflered. The other issue with a noise study is the fact that you have a highway adjacent to the site; the equipment will not be able to easily differentiate between the event noise and the highway noise. Email received from the City of Elko new Market Senior Planner The Elko Speedway has been operating in Elko New Market since 1965 so they are basically legal nonconforming. Over the years they have applied to the city for allowance of other uses such as certain events (i.e. concerts) and the incorporation of a drive-in movie theater. All of their land use approvals, including the racetrack uses, were reviewed in 2017 and incorporated into a PUD ordinance which I have attached. In 2021 the PUD was amended to allow exterior storage of boats and RV's during the off season (also attached). I have worked full time for the city since 2016, and part time prior to that. I have only received one complaint ever regarding the noise. Most people in the community will admit that on race nights, the noise is audible for a long distance, but in our community, it is largely accepted — part of the culture I guess. The owners and operators of the Speedway are really good to work with here. They are really on top of everything from directing traffic to security, and working with our Police Department. If issues come up they seem to address them. First race event after Covid there was a huge