Neighbors to a proposed motocross track in the Town of Wright have hired an attorney to help them keep an eye on things, even as it appears the project is being switched from a commercial track to something just for family and friends.
About 10 neighbors, along with their attorney Teressa Bakner from Whitemanm Osterman & Hanna, turned out for Thursday’s Town of Wright Planning Board meeting to express concerns over plans by Kaden Marvin and his family to build a motocross track at 627 Westfall Road.
The Planning Board had a full agenda and never allowed the group to speak—despite allowing comments from the floor when the project was first discussed in March.
At that time, Mr. Marvin and his father, Jamie Marvin, said they’d hoped to use the 138-acre parcel they own on Westfall Road to build a motocross track.
While it would be mostly for personal use, they said, they’d also been approached by Yamaha to hold Yamaha Demo Days there and were considering a few American Motorcycle District-34 races as well, along with camping.
In March, neighbors expressed concern over noise, dust, and trash.
Karl Yoder, spokesman for the group at Thursday’s meeting, said those remain their concerns—even as the Marvins’ plans may have changed.
They’ve already submitted the project to the Planning Board for site plan review, but would now also like to simultaneously submit plans for a private track.
It’s unclear whether the private track would require site plan review; plenty of people ride their dirt bikes around their private property without the Planning Board’s approval, the Marvins pointed out.
But Planning Board chair Evan Motschmann said because the plans may well be challenged, it might make sense to still require the review; other Planning Board members disagreed.
The Planning Board had asked the Town Board for money for an attorney to help them answer some of the questions, but the request was denied.
Thursday, they agreed to ask again.
“I do think we’ll end up here eventually,” requiring site plan review, Mr. Motschmann said.
Professional planner and Wright resident Nan Stolzenburg, who’s volunteering her services to the Planning Board, not just on the Marvins’ plans, but on anything that comes before it, said the issue is complex and “should really have an attorney weighing in.”
“We get it, you don’t want a public track,” Kayden Marvin said, pledging to work with the Planning Board—though his father said if they’re required to undergo site plan review, it should be required for other existing private tracks as well.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30pm without allowing public comment.
Mr. Yoder said afterwards they’re going to continue to “try and participate in the process if we get an opportunity.”
“There is really little difference between a private track and a commercial track,” he said, and they’re concerned what happens if a private track gets approved “but is run like a club to make money at the expense of the neighbors.”