THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502170235
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Guest Column
SOURCE: BY DAVID WALKUP
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
The Suffolk City Council approved a conditional-use permit on Jan. 4 for an automobile racetrack near the intersection of Nansemond Parkway / Portsmouth Boulevard and Shoulders Hill Road.
This decision was against the recommendation of the Suffolk Planning Commission, which said the racetrack would be harmful to the people and property in Suffolk. The Suffolk police, fire and rescue departments also made it clear that the congestion in the area on race night would seriously impede response time of emergency vehicles because all of the roads leading to and from the racetrack are two lanes with ditches on each side.
More than 200 Suffolk citizens were at the Suffolk City Council meeting opposed to the racetrack, while fewer than 40 people from Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton and Suffolk appeared in favor of the racetrack. Since that meeting, citizens from Suffolk and Chesapeake have asked the Suffolk City Council to reconsider its decision at three different City Council meetings. They have received no response from the City Council.
A lawsuit was filed against the City of Suffolk because of the City Council's insensitivity to the citizens impacted by the racetrack. Within two weeks of filing the lawsuit, more than $10,000 had been collected or committed by citizens opposed to the racetrack. Checks came from individuals from downtown Suffolk, Nansemond Suffolk, Western Branch Chesapeake, Great Bridge Chesapeake and Portsmouth.
A noise study done at Langley Speedway revealed that at seven miles away from the racetrack on race night, the sound would be as loud as normal conversation and would still be audible at 12 miles away from the racetrack. A 1990 census map shows that approximately 24,000 people or 45 percent of Suffolk's population, approximately 33,000 people or 31 percent of Chesapeake's population and approximately 46,000 people or 44 percent of Portsmouth's population live within seven miles of the proposed racetrack site. In other words, roughly 50,000 voters will be affected by this racetrack at the proposed site.
Currently, only three local politicians have opposed the building of the racetrack on this site. Suffolk Council members Marian B. Rogers and Charles F. Brown have stepped forward and voted against it. Del. Lionell Spruill spoke against the building of the racetrack at the proposed site at one of the Suffolk City Council meetings and was applauded by the citizens in attendance. Unfortunately, Mayor S. Chris Jones threatened to throw the citizens out of the meeting because they applauded.
Del. Spruill also made a contribution and wrote a letter expressing his feelings toward the racetrack. Del. Spruill wrote, ``I recognize the need for economic growth and believe it is necessary for local economies. However, I restate, I do not support growth that has the potential to negatively affect existing homeowners and established communities.''
My hat is off to Rogers, Brown and Spruill for respecting and being sensitive to the needs of the citizens they represent.
Chesapeake City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the Western Branch Strategic Plan. During this meeting the racetrack will be discussed because it will have a major impact on the Western Branch area. Since the racetrack will have a major negative impact on residential property values, will require the expansion of Portsmouth Boulevard to four lanes from Interstate 664 to the Suffolk line, will require increased city police requirements on race night due to drunken-driving check points, and may prevent the residential development and building of two new schools at the New Boone's Farm location, the citizens hope the City Council will send Suffolk City Council a strong message that they oppose the building of the racetrack at the proposed site. I also hope the 16,000 Western Branch voters take time to watch their City Council step forward and stand with the citizens they represent as Rogers, Brown and Spruill have done.
Please come to the City Council meeting or watch it on WCTV-23. MEMO: Mr. Walkup, who lives on Wild Duck Crossing in Chesapeake, is
co-chairman of Citizens Against the Racetrack.
by CNB