CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. — With Planning & Zoning standing in the way, a local ATV race track has taken a detour, by moving outside the zoning district—only a short distance from the site of the original track. Chalk Rock Raceway in Roach will continue to operate, despite opposition from some neighbors and a denial for a Conditional Use Permit by the Camden County Board of Adjustments.
On Wednesday, Aug. 19, the Camden County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a request by Danny James, of Chalk Rock Raceway LLC, for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow the dirt race track to be a private commercial recreational area. The raceway is an extreme ATV racetrack connected to the Lucas Oil Extreme Dirt Track Racing Series.
The race track CUP had a close call when the P&Z commissioners voted in August, with four in favor and three against.
P&Z commissioners had tabled the CUP request at their July meeting after hearing opposition from residents who live near the property citing multiple nuisances, as well as a potential for a decrease in their property values. The BOA also heard complaints. Multiple citizens spoke in favor of the CUP, and in favor of James as a businessman of integrity as well.
However, due to an appeal of the CUP by Mark and Paulette Russell, neighbors of James, the CUP was sent to the Camden County Board of Adjustments (BOA). The BOA voted three for, and one against, the CUP. In order to pass there needed to be four in favor of the decision. One member abstained due to being related to the applicant.
With the failure of the CUP, the racetrack owners plan to move the track slightly west on an approximately 144-acre property, owned by the James family, outside of the P&Z jurisdiction.
The raceway property in question is zoned A-1, and is located at 729 W.S. Osborn Pass in Roach, Mo. The surrounding properties to the north, east, and west are zoned A-1. Properties to the west are outside of the Lake Area Planning and Zoning District.
Attorney for the Russels, Joseph Saab, argued during the BOA appeal that there was no mention of racetrack use in A-1 of the Camden County Unified Land Use Code. Racetracks are, however, allowed in B-3 High Impact Commercial zoning, or with a CUP in B-2 General Commercial.
In an interview after the August P&Z Commission decision to allow the CUP, with a plethora of requirements agreed to by James, P&Z Commissioner Jacob Neusche warned that it was in the best interest of those in opposition to the CUP to allow a CUP because legally James could move the raceway 400 yards west, and be out of the Camden County Planning and Zoning District.
This would place James and the racetrack outside of any regulations whatsoever. And that is exactly what James and the Chalk Rock Raceway crew plan to do.
With the move, Chalk Rock Raceway will not be subject to any regulations on how often or how late race events can be held, or on any of the other 20 conditions the P&Z commissioners placed on the CUP.
