|
September 18, 2007, by Kathy Jumper, Mobile Press
Register
Alabama Motorsports Park plans downscaled
By cutting 3 of 6 tracks, developers of
Earnhardt speedway hope to avoid lengthy environmental study
Motorsports park developers hope to avoid a lengthy environmental impact
study by cutting three of the six tracks planned for more than 2,000 acres
on Alabama 158 off Interstate 65 in Prichard, they said Monday.
Gulf Coast Entertainment investors are seeking permits to start
construction in early 2008 on the $624 million Alabama Motorsports Park, a
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway. The tracks would be operating by the first
quarter of 2010, according to Mike Dow, former mayor of Mobile and
president of the investor group.
The new site plan would include an oval track, which is branded a Dale
Earnhardt Jr. Speedway, a road course and a karting track, and will
accommodate stock car, truck, open wheel, sprint and motorcycle racing,
according to Bill Futterer of PSE-3, a Raleigh, N.C., marketing firm
working on the project.
But a drag strip, dirt track and motocross track that had been part of the
project will be eliminated, Futterer said. "This would substantially alter
the project and significantly reduce the impacts of noise, dust and
traffic," he said. Also, it could allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
to provide a permit review after an environmental assessment instead of an
Environmental Impact Statement, according to Futterer.
An environmental assessment is typically done when it's easy to
demonstrate that impact to wetlands, streams or wildlife is not major. An
impact statement, which can take 12 to 18 months to complete, is usually
required for large projects with major impacts, and involves more research
and analysis by environmental experts.
The investors' original site plan, submitted to the corps last May, stated
that the project on the banks of Chickasabogue Creek would alter more than
three miles of stream and fill 177 acres of wetlands.
The corps, in an Aug. 27 letter, told Gulf Coast Entertainment that an
impact statement would be required before a permit decision could be made,
according to Pat Robbins, a corps spokesman in Mobile. The motorsports
group responded in a letter received Sept. 12 that it would reduce the
scope and size of the project.
The corps said Monday that it would look at a new site plan and consider
issuing a permit without an impact statement if the new proposal
significantly reduces the impact to the site.
"However, if it turns out these impacts are significant, then an EIS may
be warranted down the road," Robbins said. "It depends on what they come
in with, what the studies are and how well they are done."
Several agencies and local groups, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Mobile Bay Group of
the Sierra Club and Mobile Bay Keeper have asked the corps to require an
impact statement, according to the corps' file on the project.
Submitting a new proposal to avoid an impact statement is not uncommon,
and it should not delay the racetrack's permitting process, according to
Robbins.
"The site visits have been done already, and now we will look at the new
proposal to see what that changes," he said.
Mobile County and Prichard officials lauded the choice of the site late
last year when the group picked the Prichard location over alternates in
Baldwin County. The development -- backed by NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Dale
Earnhardt Jr.; his brother, Kerry Earnhardt; and sister Kelley Earnhardt
Elledge -- also includes an RV park, along with retail and entertainment
options.
Reducing the number of tracks and moving some of the venues "will reduce
the impact on the wetlands dramatically," Dow said. The site changes will
not affect the commercial enterprises, such as residential, hospitality,
retail, restaurants and entertainment, he said.
"The investors have no trepidation" about the design changes, Futterer
said.
The track cutbacks shouldn't hurt the project, according to Mike Dean, a
Mobile County commissioner. "This shows that the investors are willing to
do what's best for the environment by downsizing," he said. "The location
is already going to have more venues than any other racetrack in the
country."
A
website with a description of plans for
the facility can be found
here.
Latest news on park
Alabama Motorsports Park news:
Plans for New Track in Mobile Alabama
Involve Earnhardt Family
MOBILE, Ala. - A new race track venue is scheduled to open in the Mobile,
Alabama area in late 2009 to early 2010. The new venue will be known as
Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway. Joining the
motorsports star and a diverse group of investors from various southern
states in participation in the project are Kelley Earnhardt Elledge and
Kerry Earnhardt, marking the siblings' first professional collaboration.
"Our family business is racing and it's been our business for three
generations," said Dale Earnhardt Jr. "Kelley, Kerry and I want to
continue the family business with hopes that the next generation of
Earnhardts will want to be involved in the sport. This new venture with
the Alabama Motorsports Park provides yet another avenue in which the
Earnhardt family can participate.
It is estimated that the developers are investing $650 million to build
the park. A
website with a description of plans for
the facility can be found
here.
Latest news on park
The new Alabama Motorsports Park will include:
Oval Track
7/10-mile lighted oval with 75,000 seats expandable to 125,000 seats with
room for 100 haulers.
Sprint Track
3/8-mile dirt track designed to attract national sprint car events.
Road Course
3.5 mile road course in two distinct, but connecting, sections to provide
for unique testing capabilities permanent seating and traditional expanse
used for road-racing spectators.
Dragway
1/4-mile drag strip designed to attract national drag racing events
Winners Circle Program
Enables fans and or business owners to purchase capability to guarantee
same for any event at any motorsports venue; and program would not require
Winner Circle participant to purchase tickets to every event.
Parking
Parking will be planned as part of transportation hub that will enable
parking areas to provide convenient customer acess to all venues; and
special reserved parking areas are planned for Winners Circle
participants.
RV Lot
The RV lot will be divide into three sections.
500 pull-through concrete slips
Latest news on park
Forum discussion about race track
Miscellany
Boone's Hunting, Plainville, IL -"Hunting
as it once was!" Trophy Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Quail, Chukar, and Dove,
Call R.J. Boone at 217-656-3960 for more info.
Clay Fauver's
House Movers & Leveling Co.
- Structure relocation since 1956. Semmes,
Alabama
Gulf
One Design, Pensacola, FL
- Website design and hosting with an exceptional level of
personal service. 800-292-7940.
 Click here to update or add racetrack links to the directory. |
|
