CORRECTION: A now-closed construction and demolition landfill, the proposed location for a motocross park, is at 21st and Skate streets. The location was incorrectly reported.
WEST HAVEN -- An indoor and outdoor motocross park is one step closer to reality after the West Haven Planning Commission approved a conditional-use permit for the tracks.
A handful of those who live or own property near the proposed Edge Plex Motor Sports Park showed up at Wednesday night's meeting to voice their concern about noise, dust and the aesthetics of the building and outdoor track. The park is sited near and on the now-closed construction and demolition landfill at 21th and Skate streets.
Despite questions from residents, the planning commission passed the permit, with conditions, by a 6-1 vote, with Commissioner Marvin Pebley as the opposing vote.
Micki Elmer, who lives near the site, said her family does motocross, and while she enjoys the sport, she knows the noise and dust that come with it.
"It shows green," she said, referring to the illustration of the proposal, "but motocross is not green. It's dirt. It's plumes of dirt. It's pollution. It's noise."
She said the dust and noise from the outdoor motocross park near Smith and Edwards shows that it would be a bad use in a city.
However, Kaysville resident Gary Brough said it's unfair to compare that park with the type the petitioner, Cecil Satterthwaite, hopes to build. Brough said he owns two motocross parks and when they are run as businesses rather than clubs, they are much cleaner and quieter.
Deana Dominguez, who owns property near the landfill, said she is not only concerned with the noise, but also the safety of riders.
She said the landfill is still settling and it could be dangerous to the riders, as the outdoor track will cover the south and east slopes of the landfill. A BMX park and overflow parking are also located on the top of the landfill.
All of the indoor park and most of the outdoor track are within West Haven boundaries, a small part of the outdoor park is in Ogden and Ogden city owns the land on top of the landfill.
Satterthwaite said the motor sports park fits in with the recreation mecca image that Ogden is trying to create and the city is supportive of his proposals.
Commissioner Shelly Rovira made the motion to approve the conditional-use permit as long as Satterthwaite creates adequate solutions for lighting, noise, dust, paved parking, overnight parking and adequate medical support for large events, and provides a detailed landscape plan.
West Haven resident Chris Stewart said businesses are allowed to come in and promise they will fulfill certain requirements and there is no follow-up enforcement.
She said she was worried that the park would become yet another unattractive business on the way into the city.
"Are we a dumping ground or are we West Haven? I just don't get it," she said.
Co-petitioner Brett Satterthwaite said ideally Edge Plex would move its entire business from its current location in the Business Depot next to the park, so they had a vested interest in being a good neighbor.
Pebley said he had no problem with the indoor track, but he thought residents had legitimate concerns about the outdoor track that weren't being addressed by the commission.
Satterthwaite has previously proposed the Edge Plex Motor Sports Park in West Weber in 2008 and Morgan County in 2009.
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