Racetrack complaints head to supervisors

Four Carson City residents have appealed a February Planning Commission decision about what events can and can't be held at Carson-Tahoe Champion Speedway.

Planning commissioners voted 6-1 that users at the track could continue to operate with events it has hosted since 1978.

Supported by neighbors of the raceway, the appellants claim planning commissioners made decisions regarding the future of the racetrack without adequate information.

Neighboring property owners Jeff and Ray Schulz claim in their appeal that go-carts, added to the track last year, a driving school and the use of all-terrain vehicles in motocross and motocross itself are all illegal expansions of the track -- all issues planning commissioners considered legal track uses.

The track has been in Carson City since 1963. Speedway events that have occurred since then are allowed to continue in what has become a residential neighborhood over the last six years.

While the track's neighbors are not trying to force the speedway from the neighborhood, the group has been vocal about not allowing what they view as expanded uses, as well as dust and noise from the site

"Yes, people did in fact move near the race track knowing full well that it had certain grandfathered rights," Jeff and Ray Schulz wrote. "What people didn't know is that apparently grandfather rights can change with a simple planning commission vote. There needs to be more protection for the welfare of the public and property owners."

Other appellants include Don and Kate Schulz, who concur with Jeff and Ray Schulz, on the uses planning commissioners approved and added their disagreement with the "expansion of hours and days to include longer hours, more days per week and more weeks per year." Neighboring property owner Bill Kugler is the fourth appellant.

Carson City supervisors will decide Thursday whether to overturn the planning commission's decision.

"Our position is we agree with staff and with the recommendation of the planning commission's decision," track lessee Jim Bawden said. "They came to the right conclusions."

If you go:

What: Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting

When: 4 p.m., Thursday

Where: the Community Center's Sierra Room, 851 E. William St.