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November 10, 2011 (El Cajon )—Plans to reopen the old Marshall Scotty’s go-kart track as Canyon Raceway have been stalled, co-owner Carrie Ludeke has informed ECM.
“We were informed by the County that they could not grandfather this track as a go kart track,” she informed ECM. “They want us to repermit from the ground up. They are asking for site plans, environmental impact reports on march lands, the tree groves, and the air quality.” In addition, the county seeks traffic impact studies with possible redevelopment of freeway exits and $8,000-$20,000 to open a permit process for a 9-18 month review.
The County further said a major use permit would be required if any patrons park n a nearby church lot. Owners Rudy and Carrie Ludeke were also informed that they would need to get clearance from the land development department, Ludeke said. “We called them and they are as baffled as we are as to why the County is doing this,” she said, adding that the track is not part of the old Marshall Scotty’s park but sits above and has its own parking lot and address. “We did nothing to the track. We simply went in and cleaned up 17 years of debris and painted….We did not building, no tearing down.” The track is separately fenced, she added.
To date, a Facebook page for the new go –track has had 33,000 posts. An estimated 60-70 East County residents have emailed supervisors urging support for the project.
“We are an East County family that has pulled every resource together just to open the track,” Ludeke said, adding that she and her husband cannot afford to pay the fees required by the County. “Our five go-karts are equipped with lawn mower motors. They cannot be impacting the environment any more than the major freeway that is just 100 feet away. It is crazy to think they have to permit a track that already exists.”
The County allowed the facility to host an opening day, where many East county families participated. “It was amazing to see all the smiles…All the County has to do is grandfather this track in,” said Ludeke. “Otherwise it will go back to the overgrown eye sore that it was before.”
According to the San Diego Union Tribune, Richard Grunow, the chief of the project planning division for the county Department of Planning and Land Use said that state law requires public agencies to review projects for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. Wetlands and sensitive species are protected by federal, state and county regulations.
“We will review their project for compliance with these and other applicable regulations once they submit additional information,” Grunow told the Union-Tribune, adding that the track owners failed to apply for permits. "The county plans to work with the Ludekes and come to a “reasonable solution."
The track owners have a meeting planned with Supervisor Dianne Jacob next Tuesday. They encourage East County residents who want to see the go kart facility grandfathered in to contact all County Supervisors at the links below:
1st District: Greg Cox
E-mail: greg.cox@sdcounty.ca.gov
Phone: (619)531-5511; Fax: (619) 235-0644
Website: www.sdcounty.ca.gov/bos1
2nd District: Dianne Jacob
E-mail: Dianne.jacob@sdcounty.ca.gov
Phone: (619) 531-5522; Fax: (619) 696-7253 fax
Website: www.co.san-diego.ca.us/cnty/bos/sup2
3rd District: Pam Slater-Price
E-mail: pam.slater@sdcounty.ca.gov
Phone:: 619-531-5533; Fax: 619-234-1559
Website: www.sdcounty.ca.gov/bos3/index.html
4th District: Ron Roberts
E-mail: ron.roberts@sdcounty.ca.gov
Phone: Phone: 619-531-5544; Fax: 619-531-6262
Website: www.sdcounty.ca.gov/cnty/bos/sup4
5th District: Bill Horn
E-mail: bill.horn@sdcounty.ca.gov
Phone: Phone: 619-531-5555; Fax: 619-685-2662
Website: www.sdcounty.ca.gov/cnty/bos/sup5
Comments
Money Money Money
It's about nothing but money. Government needs it to survive. Everyone had enough yet?
Go Karts
It never ceases to amaze me the loops the County puts people through to open a business. And then our elected officials wonder why people and businesses are leaving the State. The State just announced 1.5 billion dollar revenue shortfall from projections. At one time I could not understand why most business would not want to move to CA. Today, I can't understand why anyone wants to stay. The weather is nice. But that does not feed a family of enable one to live the American Dream.
The last place in the United States I would open a business today is anywhere in California.
Open, open, open -
Open, open, open - Supervisoes - please 'grandfather' this in as requested. It would be as if the track had never closed, so what's the problem? With the economy still in serious trouble, it be folly to deny a business to open which will create jobs and tax revenue.