Motokazie moves forward on Faribault Daily News

Motokazie is moving forward with the Planning Commission’s support.

The commission at its meeting Thursday unanimously backed an ordinance change request necessary for the project to advance.

“I’m almost in tears I’m so happy,” said Lee Theis, Motokazie president and chief executive. “I’m very pleased that people looked at the issues at hand.”

Planning Commission member Ben Miller abstained because he signed a petition against the park and lives near one of the lakes that could be affected.

The ordinance change would allow organized motor sports in a highway commercial district with a conditional-use permit. The existing ordinance limits motor sports to agricultural and urban-reserve zoning districts.

While the change would apply across the county, it was brought forward to allow Jordan-based Motokazie Inc. to build a $2.7 million motor sports park off Interstate 35.

Neighbors in the northern part of the county have rallied against the park since Theis introduced the project April 1. The resulting debate between them and project supporters, led by motocross enthusiasts, has played out across the public meetings and the pages of newspapers in the affected communities.

City organizations and city leaders even jumped into the fray. The Lonsdale, Northfield and Faribault-area chambers formally supported the project. Faribault Mayor John Jasinski, state Sen. Mike Parry (R-Waseca) and other officials spoke before the commission.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Dundas City Council drafted a letter and resolution that noted that it didn’t fit the county’s master plan and that there is ample space where it could be built without an ordinance change. The letter concluded by asking the county to reject the ordinance and reconvene the committee that developed the master plan to study the ordinance change further.

Opinions were equally split at the public hearing that preceded the commissioners’ vote. County staff brought in extra chairs until fire code was reached, and the remaining attendees listened in an overflow room. Initially, 78 people signed up to speak. Although several chose not to, public comments lasted nearly three hours.

“We can talk about decibel levels until we’re blue in the face, but the bottom line is: Dirt bikes make noise,” one man said, echoing the worries of many who spoke.

Those comments covered a variety of issues, but the issue for the commissioners boiled down to what type of zone is most appropriate for organized motor sports. Their conclusion was that highway commercial is much more appropriate than zones where motor sports are already allowed — mainly because the zone seeks businesses that boost employment, raise the tax base, need good access to the interstate and don’t require utility connections.

“The argument will be here — the same argument, the same people, maybe different people — if it goes in an ag district,” said Jeff Docken, a county commissioner and Planning Commission member.

Said Planning Commission member Kim Halvorson: “Do I think I see this in an agricultural area? I think we would have the room twice as full.”

They also downplayed the noise fears — especially in comparison to what is already allowed in the area. Commission member Gordon Kelley said he learned while talking with two executives over the past week that the types of warehouses allowed sometimes operate 24 hours a day and other times operate only at night. By contrast, he said he couldn’t hear noise from the Motokazie track he visited in Kellogg.

“There’s lots of things in this world that make noise,” Kelley said. “Farming creates noise. The interstate highway creates noise. My neighbor’s lawn mower makes noise. I hear that quite regularly.”

Despite the decision, Motokazie has a rough road ahead. County commissioners will take up the matter at a meeting May 25. Because it’s an ordinance change, the proposal will require four votes instead of the usual three, and commissioners split 3-2 just setting Thursday’s the public hearing — something that is usually a straightforward matter.

And even if they do uphold the Planning Commission’s recommendation, Motokazie will have to undergo a similar process to obtain the conditional-use permit to actually build the park.

“We’re very prepared and ready to put in our hard work with the county,” Theis said.

Meanwhile, neighbors near the proposed park plan to continue the fight.

“I’m disappointed that they all said yes — that no one agreed (with us), but I’m still hopeful,” said critic Bill Malecha, a Forest Township supervisor who lives near the site. “I’m going to keep coming to meetings.”

— Staff writer James Warden may be reached at 333-3127.

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Member Opinions: By: Fbodutchman on 5/7/10 Let this guy do business! Good grief! By: ConcernedFbltCitizen on 5/7/10 This plan sounds like a great idea !!!!!!!!! Good luck and I hope the plans work out to make this plan a reality !!!!! By: jkline805 on 5/7/10 Thank you to all the members of the planning commission for thinking rationally and not letting the emotional tactics of the opposition sway their vote. Motokazie has a right to operate his business and this is the right location for it. Not in Ag land and not in Urban Reserve. Also, thank you to the supporters who showed up. There was approx 250 in favor of this change and I think your attendance was very important both for last nights vote, and the upcoming vote on the 25th. By: Ofsilence on 5/7/10 This is something that can really bring in a wide swath of people to the local area. Faribault cannot attract a business without large amounts of corporate welfare. Many of the "pro growth" communities around Faribault have at least a couple of attractions that bring in people from outside of the local community. Faribault has none. People need to wake up to the real effects of the "New Economy" and stop relying on 2005 planning models that are both outdated and not realistic. If a business wants to come to Faribault and have it be on their own dime, then why not? Last time I checked, the city is having severe issues financially (lack of tax base) and Faribault isn't necessarily listed as "top one hundred places for a business to expand in." By: Sixxer on 5/7/10 Apparently jkline805 forgot that some people are NOT in favor of this type of business. There are two sides to the coin jkline805. The exclusion zone this business is going to create is going to be huge. I can't see any other businesses wanting to come within a mile of this monstrosity. It will bring minimal into the county coffers (less then .1% of the budget) and it will bring more problems than its worth. Vote against this county board, please vote against this. Having something this size and problematic for "entertainment" for less than 1% of the population is idiocy. By: bubbles on 5/7/10 REALLY!? Why can't we all just get along...I would love to have a place like this near us. For years we drove to Elko to watch the races, spent tons of money just on admission not to mention the food, gas and wear and tear on the vehicle. Can't wait to visit this new attraction AND take the kids. By: jkline805 on 5/7/10 Sixxer, your kidding yourself if you think that I have forgotten the oposition. I just choose not to mention them. The planning commission really said it best in their closing statements. Time will tell if the commissioners feel the same way. As for your "exclusion zone", what do you have to say about the half dozen or so businesses that have submitted statements saying they have no problem relocating next to a motorsports park? What about Raceway Park in Shakopee? There are thriving businesses RIGHT next to the track there. In fact, both of the businesses that are neighbors to Raceway Park are the very same types of businesses that the Comprehensive Plan was hoping to attract. A truck terminal and concrete plant. Neither of which are quiet by any stretch of the imagination. The lesson here is this, Motorsports and other businesses such as these can and have thrived next to one another. By: seh on 5/7/10 Sixxer- this will bring in more businesses and revenue that you can imagine. You will see a surge in the hotel industry, restaurant business and companies like J&J, Lacannes Marine and Harley Davidson will see a surge in sales as well as visitors to their stores because of this park. People pay big money to drive to these parks, admission, food, supplies, etc. all in the name of racing. Racing is a HUGE industry and has grown by leaps and bounds in the past 5 years. And other businesses will choose to build there because they will be in a prime location for consumers. Kind of like why bars spring up next to the Dome, or a motel is built next to a waterpark. By: lexter on 5/7/10 Motokazie is an unwelcome neighbor. This will impact home values and quality of life in the surrounding area. I only hope that county commissioners will come through and vote AGAINST Motokazie on the 25th. By: bigrascal on 5/8/10 After reading the stories and reading all of the comments posted, it seems to me that the zoning for the location is the main concern. A freeway location is needed for visibility, ease of access, and creature comfort's. Also brought up was Faribault's tax base problem. I believe that all of this could be solved by moving the park 10 miles south to Faribault. The City of Faribault has expanded Highway 60 west for expansion. There is already a hotel, fuel, food, and shopping available. Bare land is available west of I35 and south of Highway 60. Faribault gains 1) business that is not asking for any help relocating, 2) increased tax base, 3) more visitor's to Faribault, and 4) return on investment on the Highway 60 expansion project. Then there is the noise issue. I can not imagine this track being any noisier than living in Faribault with all of the vehicle's with LOUD exhaust. Ya, you all have heard them, the car's with the big round chrome muffler's that can be heard four block's away, the car's with just plain LOUD exhaust sytem's the pick up's with LOUD exhaust system's, and then then there are the Harley's that can be heard six block's away. I have semi's traveling Highway 60 one block from my house that are rarely heard starting up from a stop light. Is it 6am Sunday morning yet? By: nordicbubba2002 on 5/8/10 I agree with big rascal we already spent the money on west of hwy 60 and there it sits empty.Now that is pure stupidity all the hype of BIG BOX retail . there it sits growing noxious weeds for us citizens of Faribault to enjoy that planning and zoning and Faribault's commissioners for nothing:( By: FactsJack on 5/8/10 Great idea bigrascal: Since Motokasie predicted 50% of his business to be from the Twin City Area this would force the participats to actually be in Faribault City Limits. Hmmmm If its in the City doesn't the city get a higher tax payment. This would be such a boom to Faribault business because its right their next to Faribault Not 10 miles away where it may or may not get the business.
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