CASTLE ROCK — For the next four months, Douglas County residents living on fewer than 35 acres will not be allowed to build personal dirt bike tracks or other motorsports facilities on their land.
After Aug. 23, though, the is hopeful the county will have a permitting process in place so responsible residential property owners can have appropriate motorsports facilities on their own land.
The commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday to adopt amendments to the county zoning resolution setting rules for motorsports uses on residential properties after continuing a lengthy hearing on the topic from two weeks ago.
Existing motorsports facilities are not subject to the new regulations.
The vote comes just before the expiration of the commissioners put on such uses on residential property in October. That temporary measure followed repeated complaints from rural residents about such facilities being built without oversight from the county and noise and other impacts hurting their abilities to enjoy their own properties.
The zoning rules adopted Tuesday ban motorsports uses on residential and agricultural properties under 4.5 acres and require a application for motorsports projects on properties over 35 acres. Properties between 4.5 and 35 acres would qualify for the permitting process the county staff is now charged with creating.
“I think that’s the direction. Very sensible. Let’s not commit either way,” Commissioner Roger Partridge said of picking an oversight option for intermediate-sized properties that doesn’t ban motorsports uses but doesn’t given residents free rein to build, either.
County staff put forth a draft of the rules two weeks ago that would have allowed motorsports uses on residential properties between 4.5 and 35 acres with the main enforcement mechanism being that the homeowner could move no more than 50 cubic yards of dirt in the construction of the facility. The were far more restrictive when it came to noise the tracks could generate and hours of operation. Neighbors who opposed motor sports uses felt the rules set forth earlier this month were far too loose, especially when it came to noise.
“This is a very lax rule, which, I think, understandably, will encourage such uses in rural residential areas,” said resident Robert Spencer.
The board agreed the rules did not go far enough to protect neighbors on rural residential lots, but Commissioner Jill Repella, citing comments by responsible motorsports enthusiasts with small private tracks already built in the county, was reluctant to ban them. She suggested the county explore a permitting process.
“I am very reluctant to absolutely shut it all down, because I want to give people the opportunity to do the right thing,” she said.
Commissioner David Weaver said he has questions about the potential costs of the permits and the burden they could put on county staff and law enforcement, but he voted for the rules anyway.
Members of the county planning staff said a public workshop likely will be scheduled in the near future. If an appropriate permitting process cannot be established by the board’s Aug. 23 meeting, Repella said she would be willing to discuss other options for intermediate-sized properties.
More than 50 people spoke at the public hearing two weeks ago. A vast majority opposed allowing motorsports on most rural residential properties. Among them was Sedalia area resident Christine Hashimoto, who remained opposed to allowing motorsports in most cases.
“It’s nice of them to give the benefit of the doubt,” Hashimoto said of the board’s decision. “People have been given decades to be responsible, but, like Jill says, maybe they just need a little guidance.”
Joe Rubino: 303-954-2953, jrubino@denverpost.com or @RubinoJC
