Mountain View County councillors have set a March 29 special council meeting to consider a vote on a proposed motorsport park outside Carstairs.
The move to set the date came following an update by administration during the regularly scheduled council meeting on March 8.
Rocky Mountain Motorsports is proposing the construction of a multi-million-dollar facility, which could include a motorsports racetrack, a driver training facility, a business area, commercial retail services, outdoor recreation, and sports fields.
Bylaw No. 14/16 redesignates the 545.64-acre parcel near Highway 2 from agricultural district to direct control district.
If eventually given final reading the redesignation would provide for the opportunity to develop the motorsport park at the site, located at SE 12-30-1-5 and NE 12-30-1-5 in the Wessex rural neighbourhood.
The bylaw received first reading on Oct. 26, when the public hearing opened. A motion passed on Dec. 14 deferred second reading pending the receipt of a number of reports and other documents.
In an update to council on March 8, director of planning Margaretha Bloem said, "We can now clarify that we have received the final concept plan. We have sufficient information from the AER (Alberta Energy Regulator) and discussions with Pengrowth to now move forward and bring this back for second and third reading to council."
Coun. Al Kemmere asked if "new information has come forward that the public needs to hear in a hearing process, or is this information that just validates what we've already heard?"
Bloem said, "There will be some amendments that we are suggesting to the bylaw that you've already seen and that was part of the public hearing. No, it's not considered new information."
Kemmere asked if the traffic assessment and the noise assessment reports received by administration following the public hearing would be made public. Bloem said yes.
Opponents of the proposed motorsport park say it will increase traffic in the area and reduce nearby property values; supporters say it will provide employment and improve road safety through training.
The special council meeting is set to begin at 9 a.m. on March 29 in council chambers.
"We can now clarify that we have received the final concept plan."Margareth BloemDirector of Planning
