Motocross approved

VERONA — Augusta County zoning officials Thursday backed a special-use permit for a Motocross track and sports park development in Greenville.

The zoning appeals board voted 4-1 in favor of the move over the objections of Greenville residents, who said the project would be a nuisance and could pose a safety issue for young people.

The project is slated for a 44-acre plot off U.S. 11 adjacent to the Pilot Travel Center.

When both phases of the project are complete, there will be a Motocross track, BMX track, skate park and paintball facility.

The board vote came slightly more than a year after a similar development won backing for Augusta Expoland. That project ultimately was rejected by Expoland’s board.

Developer Terry Argenbright said he hopes to have the Motocross track and first phase of his development in place and operating a year from now.

In addition to the Motocross and BMX tracks, there will be outdoor volleyball, basketball and eight acres set aside for local school districts to use for recreation and practices.

The second phase of the sports park would include a megadome with fitness and indoor basketball, as well as an area for volleyball. The estimate on the buildout for the total project is 5 years.

Concerns about Motocross track noise, supervision and even traffic surfaced during Thursday’s public hearing.

Land planner Chris Schooley, of Greenville, said the noise from the Motocross track on weekends would take away from the lifestyle of people living in the area.

“It will be a nuisance on weekends,’’ said Schooley, who compared the noise from the motor bikes during a sound test earlier this year to a chainsaw.

Schooley also wondered if Augusta County needed such a development. He pointed to other locations of Virginia Motocross facilities such as Pittsylvania County.

“These communities don’t have interstates or jobs,’’ he said. Augusta County is not desperate, he said.

Elizabeth Lewis, of Augusta County, said she wondered about such a development so close to Interstate 81 and the Pilot Travel Center.

It’s risky, she said, to have young teen drivers coming into an area where the weary drivers of 18-wheel trucks travel. The project also will drive down real estate prices, she said.

Tara Whitener, of Stuarts Draft, said the facility will offer Augusta County’s young people recreation options they don’t have now, noting that many young people can’t use skateboards in their communities.

Argenbright has said there will be about 12 full Motocross race events during the year and two others for young riders.

And prior to Argenbright getting approval for his project, the county zoning board approved another two-lane entry road for the Pilot Travel Center which is expected to provide a better traffic flow of trucks for that facility.

Three new diesel fueling positions were also approved for Pilot.

Board of Zoning Appeals member Charles Swortzel said traffic issues regarding the Argenbright development had been addressed.

Zoning Board member Daisy Brown said she thought much work had been done on the project, and joined Swortzel and members Steve Shreckhise and J.W. Callison Jr. in supporting the project with votes.

George Coyner II voted against it, saying “you have to question someone wanting to do something in an area where no one wants it.”

Argenbright said Thursday’s approval has taken a long time, but said clearing the final obstacle “made it all worth it.”