Laconia Citizen
Thursday, October 7, 2004

Motorsports park hearing draws 200

By BEA LEWIS

Northern Lakes Region Bureau

TAMWORTH — About 200 people attended a joint public hearing on Wednesday held by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the N.H. Department of Environmental Services Watershed Bureau to consider the needed permits for a proposed motorsports country club.

The hearing that stretched nearly four hours was held at the Kenneth Brett School in Tamworth to receive public testimony concerning an application by Motorsports Holdings LLC of Derry, which is seeking approval to fill wetlands and streams as part of the construction of a 3.1-mile European-style road course and support facilities on the North face of Mount Whittier.

Stephan Condodemetraky, president of the company formerly known as Club Motorsports Inc. said, "We have worked extremely hard to make our application meet or exceed permit requirements."

To counter opponents ongoing claims that MHL lacks the needed capital to build the project, Condodemetracky said, "Both myself and the investor group involved has the financial where for all to build fifty-five of these facilities."

Opponents cited many of the same issues they had raised at prior public hearings held by DES, the Tamworth Planning Board and the Tamworth Conservation Commission.

Key among them were concerns about the noise that fast cars and motorcycles using the track would create and the impact it would have on the area’s peace and tranquility. Others continued to question MHL’s ability to finance the development and voiced fears that the track project could be abandoned half-finished, requiring the town to pay for site stabilization. A number of residents urged state and federal officials to require the developer to post a bond or an irrevocable letter of credit to pay for mitigation if the project were to stall.

Jim Bartlett, a professional engineer for Harley & Aldrich an environmental consulting firm retained by Focus: Tamworth -- a citizen’s group that opposes the track -- testified that in his opinion the large amount of blasting and the cuts and fills needed to layout the track on a mountainside would cause the project costs to balloon to $50 million or more. If the work were to be abandoned unfinished, he estimates it would cost $11 million to mitigate the site.

Others charged that the noise would be much louder than the applicant’s claims of existing traffic noise on Route 25, and that maintaining the roar would mar worship or weddings at neighboring St. Andrews in the Valley Church.

Craig Lizotte, a professional engineer with ESS Group Inc. retained by MHL, said his firm has worked for almost a year to design alternatives to the original plans, lessening wetland impacts from nearly five acres to less than one.

Attorney Susan Duprey, who represents Motorsports Holdings, said the developer has worked diligently to limit wetland impacts and had impartial authorities review their work to address concerns. "We have made every change that has been asked of us to put forward the best possible plan."

The site of the proposed track is surrounded by thousands of acres of protected land, Duprey said, but the site also abuts a variety of other high intensity uses including a transfer station, chipping operations, gravel and timbering operations.

"Our site is not in the middle of an untouched wilderness. I’m confident that there is not a single use in the surrounding area that has been as carefully engineered as this one," she said.

Opponents have continually charged that the project poses the risk of tainting the Ossipee aquifer, which is the largest stratified drift aquifer in the state. Duprey claimed that the heart of the aquifer is actually under Route 16 and the main business district home to several gas stations and other businesses.

Those who oppose the track, Duprey charged, have made "many allegations not borne out by science." The motorsport country club will create hundreds of jobs, help lower the local tax rate and will be a "world-class facility that will add to what the region and state have to offer," she said.

Bruce Gordon, president of the Silver Lake Association in Madison which represents some 300 members, was among those who expressed concern about the sound.

"This level of noise will certainly disturb the lives of people who live in and visit our tranquil community," he said, urging both the Army Corps and DES to reject the needed permits.

John Mersfelder, chairman of the Tamworth Conservation Commission, said the developer has discredited the noise study expert retained by opponents but has failed to present its own in a public forum claiming allowing it to face scrutiny.

He questioned the aesthetic impacts of a five-story hotel to be built as part of the project and urged the Army Corps to require the posting of a bond to cover the cost of site stabilization if the developer pulled out.

Geoff Burke of Wonalancet charged that the developer has "conducted a campaign of lies and deceit," and has "deliberately fanned the flames of the most divisive issue ever to come before this town."

The Tamworth School Board submitted a letter explaining that on Sept. 10 they endorsed a resolution in the best interest of the students and staff to ensure that the sound levels at the K.A. Brett School would meet EPA standards to provide as few distractions as possible.

Marsha McKenna representing the Madison Conservation Commission joined those who testified that the track has the potential to impact the region’s clean water supply for generations to come.

Joanne Rainville, director of the Tamworth Community Nurse Association, argued accidents will happen and that gasoline and brake fluid will be spilled and are known to cause kidney and liver failure as well as leukemia in humans

Noise is a health problem she charged, maintaining it raises stress levels, increases agitation and aggression levels. Her remarks drew applause.

The Rev. Heidi Frantz-Dale, rector of St. Andrews raised the issue of a lack of regulation on the hours of operation for the track and said the noise would be "profoundly intrusive." While the sound levels generated by racing cars and motorcycles may not damage hearing, she argued it was harmful to mental health and the ability to work and worship.

Ann Batchelder of Tamworth testified that Limerock Park in Connecticut the facility MHL has cited as being most similar to its proposed motorsport park started racing in the spring of 1957. By 1958, Batchelder claims neighbors; a cemetery association and an Episcopal church across the street were suing that track.

The court found against them and banned racing on Sunday as well as unmuffled vehicles and motorcycles. The court modified its ruling annually over the next five years.

Today, Batchelder said, Limerock Park operates with strict limits but recounted that a friend who still lives in that community says the noise is still readily heard.

"We will be subjected to unregulated noise every day of the year," she charged.

Dr. Rick Van de Poll, a biologist retained by Focus: Tamworth told the Corps the proposed racetrack project would mar a conservation initiative that has protected 20,000 acres in the neighboring Ossipee Mountains costing more than $10 million in public and private funds.

The Army Corps of Engineers will accept written comments regarding the application at their New England Office based in Concord, Mass. until 5 p.m. on Oct. 16. Once a decision is issued, any aggrieved party can appeal to the DES Water Council.