DOUGLAS COUNTY — is in the midst of drafting new regulations managing facilities on private land and is seeking residents’ help.
The Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution in October placing temporary restrictions on motorsports uses on residential properties after hearing concerns from residents from rural parts of the county about the possibility of large tracks being built without significant oversight, officials say.
The board has now placed the process in the hands of the county’s planning professionals.
The placed a six-month moratorium on construction of motorsports facilities on any residential parcel in the county smaller than 4.5 acres. It further placed temporary restrictions — also in place for a period not to exceed six months — on tracks in rural residential and agricultural areas: No more than two vehicles can operate on them at any one time; they must be confined to a 1-acre area at least 100 feet from all property lines; and they can only be used between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The temporary restrictions were met with plenty of criticism from numerous county residents when planning staff on Dec. 9 held the first of several public hearings and workshop sessions about the regulations. Residents both for and against the restrictions packed the hearing.
Douglas County planner Jeanette Bare helped lead that public workshop and will lead a second meeting covering more refined draft regulations for motorsports at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 7 in the Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third St., Castle Rock. The updated rules, on which the county is accepting public comments electronically through Jan. 13, are expected to be subject to a public hearing before the county’s planning commission by the end of January.
“I think the intent is obviously to take input and develop regulations that reflect the broad interests of the entire rural community,” Bare said. “It’s about striking a balance between those interested in living in rural areas for the solitude and peace and quiet, as well as those who want to use their property for (a) variety of recreational uses, including motorsports. The goal is to have things wrapped up in six months because we don’t want uncertainty on this issue.”
Douglas County resident Dennis Larratt is a co-founder of the . He called the county’s temporary regulations “rather arbitrary and rigid.” After meeting with Bare earlier this month, though, he expressed optimism that a positive outcome can be reached, despite what he considers a rushed time frame.
“(The county) is working toward using conditional permits that allow differentiating uses based on mitigated impacts,” Larratt said, noting most of his Douglas County neighbors have small, natural tracks on their lots, not industrial-scale motorcycle jumps that might affect neighbors. “If you can ride your motorcycle and not affect the neighbors, you’re probably going to have lot more latitude than if you put a track in right next to a neighbor’s house, which makes sense.”
Robin Shipman and her husband also attended the first workshop. The couple lives on 40 acres near the intersection of South Perry Park and Tomah roads. She said they enjoy riding snowmobiles and dirt bikes on her property, but one of their neighbors recently began building what looks to be a large-scale motorsports track on a parcel where there appears to be no house, and she is concerned about how much traffic and noise a potential commercial facility could bring to her quiet neighborhood.
“We’ve been up to (Motocross Park) in Jefferson County and saw some of the motocross things going on over there, but there are no houses out there. That’s where this stuff should be,” Shipman said. “I like to fly, but I don’t want to live near an airport. I like motorcycles, but I don’t want that use right here.”
Joe Rubino: 303-954-2953, jrubino@denverpost.com
More information
Go to dpo.st/dcmotorsports
