City Council to discuss special recreation district, which could allow motorsports park

The Oak Ridge City Council will discuss a special recreation district, which could allow a motorsports park, among other potential uses, during a meeting this evening.

The special recreation district is being considered as a zoning ordinance amendment. The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission has recommended it, but the City Council has not approved it.

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 would 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.

This evening’s meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom. You can watch the meeting at oakridgetn.gov/streaming. You can see the agenda at oakridgetn.gov/agenda. The meeting will also be audio- and video-recorded and posted on the city’s website within 48 hours of the meeting’s end, the city said.

The meeting is a hybrid, meaning it will be in the Municipal Building Courtroom with council members and staff members choosing to participate either in person, or through video or audio conferencing.

The city said the meeting will be held in accordance with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s executive orders regarding the limiting of public gatherings to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 and allowing public meetings to be conducted by electronic means.

“Meeting electronically and limiting in-person access to the meeting is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare in light of COVID-19,” the city said. “Due to social distancing guidelines, seating capacity in the courtroom will be limited.”

Since it is a work session, the city said, there is no opportunity for public comment. Those who wish to watch the meeting are encouraged to do so electronically by one of the options listed above.

Contact the City Clerk’s office for more information at (865) 425-3411.