Agenda - 04-05-2011 - 7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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156 ~ebruary 28, 2011 UDO Public Nearing ~ I arn Kam Foushee, Directar af Qperations fom C}range Cocuity ~peed~,vay located. at 9740 NC k~ghwaq 57, Itougemont, NC which is lc~cated in fihe Little ~ivex Townslup, in an l~g/Itesidential designa~ion. The ~peedway, omce zoning began, was not grandfattiered in as most counties wou.~d have but designated a Lega1 Non-Conforming Status which u~ to now we still cu~ea~tly hald. Like R.udolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and other misfits t~.t are different - someone did not ~nderstaud, not like rt or just decided ~o do nofhing in hopes it wauld disappear. Since 2006, the ~peedw~y has warked with rts non- confor~u.:ty, but we nced more leeway in- arder to operate a successfatl business. The Speedway was acti~re in the 2406 Speedway Highway 57 Small Plan. We do not see the result present in tl~is UDO. The Speedway was active in tl~e 2046 Speedway Highway 57 Cozx~idor plan. It appears the ~JDO does not incorpoaate tha establishment of a commercial designation for the businesses tocated in our sma11 area as Planning Staff indic~ted would hap~en, . T'his facility ha.s a long and wonderful history since the early sixfies. Many of the neighbors moved in after the track was built. This p~ Saturday night prior to the NASCAR #ruck r~.ce, (~CS was men~ioned twice in relation to Dale Jarrett ge~fiing his fi~s~ NA,SCAR. win and wgth Jimmy 7ohnson's first ASA win. 'Yhe area has same modest hames, Ga-Kart track, a rock quaf~y, farms, a lot of harse owners, and a more than generous supply of deer and tu~rkeys atong vvith the Speedway. The Speedway is Iocated on 118 acres, mostly wood la€ad ti~at host racing events for fans of ~ocal racing. In the recent past, OCS drivers have included not only the Goad OIe Boy Motorheads and the automotive related business man, but also a pharmacist, law enfarcement of:ficer, a County Lconomic Development Directar, a data. processiug manager, and the list of business professionals goes on and on. Since reopeni~xg in 2QOb, over 196,000 fans have made the trek ta the Speedway axxd along the way stopped, shopped and stayed in Ora.r~ge County. That nwnber would have been bigher, but given the economy over the last iwo years our fan based has suffered. To ba a good neighbos, the Speedway has also partnered witlz ~lie 4rauge Relay for Life when they ceased to use the high school. The facility xs provided a# no cost to the event. The Speedway is a willing participan.t in the coznmunity. We assist w~ith funding activi~ies of loca.l groups. We have hos~ed the Occoneechee ]Boy Scout Cauncil and other Non Profits on several occasions. Only in recent weeks and by mere cha.nce, did we hear of the Unified Development Ordinance discussions has reached this point. T attribute this ta the Iack of a Representative from aur 'Fownship on the Planni~g Board. I spent Sunday afternoon reading the enfixe document. Since the canclusion of the Speedwa.y Highway 57 Small Area P~a~ meetings, Z have been i.n contact with Planning Staff over the past several years to determine wh~ would come of tbe results. Our business had no idea tize UDO was to this point. Our concern is how this ordinance will affect our ability to not only contiz~ue with our current activi.ties, but utilize the property ~or other recreational activities. The S~eedway has znquired otber the past several yeaxs about ~he poss~bility to build a horse show faciliiy to oper~e when non-ra.cing activities are he1d, hast the occasional music and othe~ recreational events. I have 6een the Director of Opera#ions of five years. U~til last month, I was the only full time employee. ~Vith t~e economy as it is, I have taken a 2i3 pay cut yet I ha.ve decided to cantinue my