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Prep Roundup
Columnists Brian Meadows Brad NormanMembersLocal Connection› Iredell County Young Athletes Association› South Iredell Athletics Association › SHS athletics › WIHS athletics › NIHS athletics › SIHS athletics › LNHS athletics Syndicate RSSAP NASCAR NASCAR Features A look at this year's schedule A look at this year's drivers Differences between stock car and open-wheel racing NASCAR Research & Development Petty Enterprises splitter testing Aerodynamic testing in Concord's wind tunnel Top 10 moments in Daytona history Site StatisticsThis page has been viewed 800827 timesPage rendered in 0.2118 seconds Total Stories: 2136 Total Comments: 34 Most Recent Entry: 08/15/2008 01:53 pm Most Recent Comment on: 04/17/2008 11:54 pm Most Recent Visitor on: 05/22/2012 10:20 am |
• Racing
2007 Oct-10
Concord revisits drag strip projectBy Eric C. Deines CONCORD — Just a week after agreeing to a zoning change to block a proposed drag strip at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway complex, Concord City Council has asked the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission to rezone the site once again to include drag strips. City Council’s vote last week was followed with claims from Speedway Motorsports CEO Bruton Smith that he would move Lowe’s Motor Speedway out of Concord. Mayor Scott Padgett did not address Smith’s comments Tuesday, only saying that the city staff has been able to gather more information regarding drag strips. “Since last Monday, we have gathered some information that made us decide to put it back on the table,” Padgett said. On Oct. 1, City Council voted to change the zoning of the Public Interest District surrounding the Speedway to prohibit drag strips. Council members said at the time that there were unanswered questions regarding noise and race scheduling for the drag, and that removing it from the district’s zoning would give them leverage to place noise and scheduling conditions on the project. The proposed $60 million drag strip sits less than a mile from several neighborhoods, and many of residents from those develops expressed concern about noise and quality of life disturbances that could be created by the drag strip. City Council also voted Tuesday to hold a special meeting and to conduct a public hearing for 7 p.m. on Oct. 24 to consider the recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Commission and the zoning amendment. Council also asked that city staff work with speedway representatives during the plan review process for the drag strip to address its impacts on the surrounding area. Last week, the city of Concord issued a statement saying the drag strip debate would not be publicly addressed until after this week’s Bank of America 500. Meanwhile, a campaign has been mounted by the Cabarrus Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Cabarrus Economic Development Council and the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce to make sure Smith keeps the Speedway in Concord. Smith has said he plans for the drag strip to host two national event annually, and would likely host events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. He also said that noise issues would be minimal in that single drag races, while loud, only last for about 4.5 seconds. Councilman David Phillips, who works with the speedway through his job at Duke Energy, recused himself from the vote Tuesday. John Cox, CEO of the Cabarrus Chamber and Economic Development Corp., said he has been involved with the negotiations surrounding the speedway. “This is much more symbolic,” said Cox. “The action by City Council tonight gives the Speedway the opportunity ... without the spector of attorneys to work with the city as it has done for the last 47 years.” Bookmarkz |
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