Stop the attack on Motorsports in the Valley

We are writing to ask you to not support the proposed amendments on Matanuska-Susitna Borough Ordinances 17.60.030 Conditional Use and 17.63.010 Race Track Regulations. These amendments will soon come to a vote in the borough.

The purpose of these amendments is to extend the current restrictions on Motorsports activity from within the core area to the entire Matanuska-Susitna Borough. They propose that where a special land use district regulates race tracks as a conditional use, the granting of a conditional use permit shall require compliance with the conditions set forth. The proposed amendments will severely limit the ability of any and all Motorsports enthusiasts, be it car, ATV, motorcycle, or snowmachine, to partake in their sport of choice. The amendments will also limit money brought in to the borough from spectators and participants who currently live outside the borough but come to watch or take part. This money goes, not just to the track operators, but local hotels, restaurants, and businesses. The amendments call for a conditional use permit application, which will cost $250 for the application fee, plus mailings to property owners, community councils, and other interested parties.

The current use of Alaska Raceway Park includes two days of racing involving unmuffled vehicles. Allowing the new track to be built there will replace one day of this racing with one day involving muffled vehicles which already meet the core area noise requirement. There will be a negligible impact on traffic and associated noise. The existence of several local gravel pits introduces large trucks which travel the area all day long. Traffic to the track will not significantly increase over current amounts. Traffic may actually decrease due to the offer of a weekend spectator pass, allowing fans to arrive on Saturday morning and watch two days of racing before leaving Sunday evening. North Star Speedway currently meets all requirements to operate in the core area, and we foresee this to continue to be true at the new facility.

These proposed amendments do not apply just to Alaska Raceway Parks expansion. They will impact all motorized vehicles on race tracks built on land, ice, or snow in the entire Matanuska-Susitna Borough. This includes popular events held in the Butte, Big Lake, Lake Lucille, and Houston, just to name a few.
We think that these amendments are unnecessary. It will benefit the community at large to not restrict Motorsports in this manner. Alaska Raceway Park and North Star Speedway currently operate under and abide by existing ordinances. Passing these two amendments will not only affect these two operations negatively, but all future Motorsports in the borough, and will drive these businesses to other areas of the State.