After nearly ten hours of public debate, Rocky View County (RVC) council voted unanimously to reject a land use redesignation for the proposed site of the $70 million Rockyview Motorsports Park.
Both race enthusiasts and concerned farmers packed into RVC’s municipal building for the public hearing on Jan. 27 to voice their support for or opposition to the proposal, which has been in the works since 2012. The current application proposed to redesignate 640-acres of land northeast of Airdrie, near Range Road 290 and Township Road 274.
The park would have included a four-kilometre road course, karting facility, driver training and safety opportunities, and complimentary business development.
“One of the primary intents of the facility is to allow people to come and learn how to drive, whether it’s at a high-performance driving school or the road safety centre,” said Dominic Young, president of the Rockyview Motorsports Corporation, who spoke at the meeting.
Since the park’s design would only use 60 per cent of the available land, the remainder would be used for agricultural and wetlands research, according to Young. However, those who spoke in opposition at the hearing voiced concerns over losing agricultural land, and the impact the noise, litter, and traffic would likely have on their adjacent properties.
“This is really just a playground intended for some elite car owners,” said nearby resident John Mick, who spoke at the public hearing. “The only reason they’ve selected this area is because it’s cheap land, but you need to look at what the effect is on the local residents.”
According to developers, with the agricultural buffer surrounding the proposed track, noise levels experienced in the area around the site would never exceed 61 decibels – the results of a sound impact study done by a German company. City of Calgary noise bylaws allow up to 96 decibels of sound before it is considered a violation.
“We have low-flying aircraft passing over this area all the time, and I can’t see how cars on a specifically designed track could destroy this country lifestyle,” said neighbouring landowner John Stanley. “Economies have to grow, and eventually, you run out of non-agricultural land to be developed.”
Four to six times per year, the track would bring in exclusive racing events featuring street-legal and registered luxury cars like Ferrari or Porsche, rather than the Nascar- or Formula- One-type events that nearby residents are afraid of, according to the proposal.
“We think there’s a reasonable amount of misunderstanding of how the facility will operate,” Young said. “Most of the time, the track is going to be rented by car clubs or motorcycle clubs.”
Dozens of supporters spoke at the event, including Roger Chaffin, Deputy Chief with Calgary Police Service (CPS). According to Chaffin, the park would provide a much-needed traffic training facility for CPS.
“It would be difficult for us to be responsible as a public entity and ask for millions in capital to try and do this on our own,” he said. “This partnership is a unique offering.”
The enthusiasts with buttons and T-shirts told council the park would provide plenty of opportunities for both education and recreation, allowing motorists to enjoy high-speed driving in a controlled area.
“When I finish a session at the race track, I drive home in a relaxed, non-aggressive manner,” said RVC resident Bruce Littke. “The race track has satisfied any desire for speed and adrenaline release. Without a nearby track, some drivers will practice illegal and dangerous street drag racing.”
However, RVC administration recommended the proposal be refused, as the land is not within an identified business area and the application does not provide adequate justification to meet the business policies as presented in the County Plan.
“We don’t believe that we are first and foremost a business,” said Young. “This is a regional recreation facility. I don’t believe a facility like that belongs in a serviced industrial park.”
“There is no doubt that there is regional support for a motorsports park, and with the loss of Race City, probably a need,” said Area Councillor Greg Boehlke. “The question is the appropriateness of the location. This is agricultural land, and that’s what the people want.”
Boehlke made a motion for refusal, which was passed unanimously.
According to RVC, the developers are welcome to look at more appropriately zoned areas and to resubmit an application. While Rockyview Motorsports Corporation was not available for comment as of press time, a statement on their website said they will be “considering alternative next steps.”
