The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider a zoning ordinance amendment that could allow a motorsports park.
A motorsports park has been proposed at the Horizon Center in west Oak Ridge. The proposal has both supporters and detractors.
The zoning ordinance amendment being considered by Council at 7 p.m. Monday, February 8, does not endorse that specific proposal. Instead, it would create a new zoning district, the special recreation district, which could be used for large-scale recreation and entertainment developments.
A motorsports park would be one of the permitted uses in the new zoning district, if it is approved. Other permitted uses would be an amphitheater, athletic facility, fairground, amusement park, and zoo.
Proposed developments would be evaluated in detail during a site plan review by the city.
The amended ordinance would define a motorsports park as a “facility with an engineered and paved course or track intended for recreational and other uses, including vehicle testing, driving skills activities, competitions; and including improvements normally associated with such facilities such as parking, loading, or unloading areas, viewing areas, concessions, restroom facilities, administrative structures, and maintenance storage areas.”
The Oak Ridge City Council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, February 8. You can review the agenda here. The meeting will be virtual, online only. You can watch it here. Read the proposed ordinance amendment here. It would have to be approved in two readings, or meetings. Read the Oak Ridge Community Development memo about the zoning ordinance amendment here.
The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission recommended approval of the zoning ordinance amendment during a January 21 meeting.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
You can contact John Huotari, owner and publisher of Oak Ridge Today, at (865) 951-9692 or [email protected]
Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, sponsors, and subscribers. This is a free story. Thank you to our advertisers, sponsors, and subscribers. You can see what we cover here.
Do you appreciate this story or our work in general? If so, please consider a monthly subscription to Oak Ridge Today. See our Subscribe page here. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today.
We also accept donations. You can donate here.
Copyright 2021 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
