HomeMy Public PortalAbout1981-015Member L- #19
adoption:
introduced the following resolution and moved its
CITY OF MEDIZ `
RESOLUTION NO. /- / 4-
RESOLUTION DENYING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE OPERATION OF
NORTH AMERICAN GRAN PRIX PACE TRACK, GO-CART TRACK, GAME ROOM AND
SNACK BAR AT 310 HIGHWAY 55, WITHIN THE CITY OF MEDINA, MINNESOTA.
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the application
of Gary Fey for construction of a North American Gran Prix Race
Track and related facilities by considering the findings of the
Planning Commission made at two successive Planning Commission
meetings, by considering the results of a demonstration of the
race cars attended by various Planning Commission and City Council
members, and by reviewing the testimony and information received
from the applicant, interested citizens, and the City staff at
two successive City Council meetings,
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council makes the following
Findings of Fact:
1) The subject application is set forth on the Proposal
and on the Site Plan, which are attached hereto and
made a part hereof by reference.
2
3
The subject property lies in the urban -commercial district
pursuant to the City Zoning Ordinance and is classified
as a conditional use, commercial -recreation.
The purpose of the urban -commerical district is to
provide a location for local retail sales and services
in business groups which compliment each other and
which do no interfere with nearby residential areas
and which do not depend upon highway traffic for
successful operation.
4) Certain noise level measurements were provided to the
City Council which are attached hereto and made a part
hereof by reference.
5
The project is within feet of outdoor residential
uses and overnight residential sleeping facilities
which do not contain year around indoor climate controls.
6) Noise from the project will exceed the noise standards
within these residential areas set by the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency.
7) The project is adjacent to an entertainment assembly
area and entertainment activities (Colonial Drive-in)
and the hours of operation of the drive-in and the
project will overlap and coincide.
8) The noise from the project will exceed the noise
standards applicable to the Colonial Drive-in
which are set by the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency.
9) The noise demonstration test attended by members of
the City Council and Planning Commission indicate
that noise levels in the residential area and at the
Colonial Drive-in Theatre will be injurious to the
use and enjoyment of the users of these properties.
10) The project lies at an elevation lower than Colonial
Drive-in Theatre and the adjacent residential areas
and it will therefore be impossible to take adequate
measures, by way of screening, buffering or fencing,
to control the noise created by the project.
11) The project as a whole, does not provide a service
which is needed by the City.
12) The project is not consistent with the purposes set
forth in the Zoning Code.for the urban -commercial
district in that the project does not have a
local orientation, is not compatible with adjacent
business uses, and is incompatible with nearby
residential areas. The lighting system which is
necessary for nighttime operation of the project and
the noise would adversely affect existing businesses
thorugh curtailment of customer trade.
13) The constant and extended use of an asphalt track by
racing cars, together with total project uses will
further aggravate the concerns of the Elm Creek
Conservation Management and Protection Couuuission
that oil, sediment, nutrients and other debris from
the project will be diverted into and will seriously
degrade the quality of water in Elm Creek.
14) Ingress and egress to and from the site for customers
and emergency vehicles will further aggravate traffic
patterns on Highway 55 increasing the high incidence
of traffic accidents caused by the merging, slowing,
stopping and turning movements into the various
heavily travelled commerial enterprises between the
intersection of County Road 116 and the railroad
overpass.
15) The hours of operation must necessarily conflict with
sleeping, recreation and leisure time activities of
nearby residential neighborhoods and the Colonial
Drive -In Theatre. The project will attract youthful
entertainment seekers to the area at the same time
that adjacent business uses such as the Colonial
Drive -In Theatre and the Medina Ballroom are creating
attractions for the same persons which will place an
additional burden on law enforcement officials to
control traffic, disorderly persons, illegal use of
alcohol and drugs, and related crowd control problems.
16) The cumulative effect of the addition of more noise,
glare, interaction of persons, traffic, and other
disruptions to those elements which already exist
in the Hamel area will have an adverse effect on the
health, safety and welfare of the occupants of surround-
ing lands and will be injurious to the use and enjoy-
ment of their property by those living and working in
the vicinity.
Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact, upon the infor-
mation received by the City Council as set forth in its minutes,
upon the personal observations of Council members and upon all
the files, records and information received in reviewing this
application, it is hereby resolved by the City Council of the City
of Medina that the application of Gary Fey for a conditional Use
Permit to construction The North American Gran Prix Race Track
and related facilities is hereby denied.
Dated;
, 1981.
ATTEST:
!�► 7'l rrev
Donna Roehl, Clerk
//1
4mas Anderson, Mayor
The foregoing motion was seconded by member /14fz, and upon
vote being taken thereon the ollowi9,g members voted in favor
thereof: 4/474:Z deof,A�` 56 -.("" /Oise✓'
and the following voted against same: 12p,�
Whereupon the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.
bse
PROPOSAL
This is a proposal for the establishment of a commercial recreation facility.
This facility will be known as NORTH AMERICAN GRAN PRIX (NAGP).
The facility will be located on Highway 55 four miles west of its junction
with I 494 on the property located next to the Medina Ballroom. This
property is owned by and will be leased from the Medina Ballroom manage-
ment. The property consists of approximately six acres (See attached
Site Plan).
The purpose of this facility will be to provide a family entertainment center
consisting of a miniature Gran Prix Race Track, a Can Am Go -Cart Track,
Game Room and Snack Bar. The main attraction of the facility will be the
Gran Prix Racing Track. The race cars used for this are designed and
built exclusively for this type of concession racing. They are a ten -foot -long
steel -frame, fiberglass -bodied car powered by a 340cc or 440cc snowmobile
engine. The cars are equipped with hydraulic brakes, roll bar, seat belts,
rack-and-pinion steering, parking brake, and a fully -tuned exhaust system.
These cars are rated at APPROXIMATELY 75 decibels at 15 feet (See Photos).
The physical plant will consist of two existing buildings. Building #1 is
40' x 40' and #2 is 24' x 32'. These buildings will be added to as shown
on the Site Plan. Building #1 will consist of a game room, rest rooms,
cashier counter, snack bar and waiting area. The addition to this building
will be for storage and office space as well as hallway access to the "Pit"
area for the public. Building #2, the garage, will be used as a service
area. The addition to this building will be used as a repair and manufacturing
area. The additions to these two buildings will be made sometime during
the first year of operation. These additions will be made in accordance
with all city codes. A11 plans will be submitted and approved prior to any
construction.
The Gran Prix race track will consist of approximately one-half mile of
asphalt pavement 20 feet wide. A11 grade and drainage plans will be calcu-
lated by a civil engineer to provide proper water drainage and run-off.
Lighting for the track will be placed so as to provide ample lighting on the
track surface. This light placement, however, will not interfere with the
operation of the Colonial Drive -In Theater which is located immediately
east of the track site.
A fuel storage area will be set up in accordance with local fire codes. There
will not be any oil disposal on -site as the vehicles have two-cycle engines
and need no crankcase oil.
PROPOSAL
- Page Two -
The Go -Cart track will consist of an area of asphalt pavement approximately
100' x 150' and will be located in the front left corner of the property (See
Site Plan).
There will be a five -foot -high fence around the entire track. The fence will
be made of 4" x 4" wire mesh fencing with wood posts. A solid, wood fence
for noise control could replace that portion of the fence line in any area where
noise may cause a problem. This provision could be written into the license.
Such a provision could be enacted by the city sending a letter directing a fence
be built, once the need is established.
The operational season will change depending on the weather. We expect to
open for business some time in mid -June 1981. After this year, the track
will open as early as possible, approximately mid -April. Fall closing will
be late -October or mid -November again depending on the weather.
Off -Season Monday - Friday 3 PM - 10 PM
(School -Year) Saturday 10 AM - 12 PM
Sunday 10 AM - 10 PM
Peak Season Sunday - Thursday 10 AM - 11 PM
(Summer) Friday - Saturday 10 AM - 12 PM
The entire facility is designed to provide entertainment for the whole family.
The Gran Prix track will be open to any licensed driver. Those drivers
under 18 must have written consent from their parent or guardian. For
those younger drivers, the Go -Cart track will be open to youngsters 10
years and older.
The Game Room will provide a complete selection of electronic games and
pinball machines.
The Snack Bar will serve frozen pizza, sandwiches, pop, candy, popcorn,
as well as sell T-shirts and other items of interest. Absolutely no alcoholic
beverages of any type will be permitted on any Gran Prix property.
Each driver of the Gran Prix cars will be issued a NAGP "Racing License".
This license will be issued after the driver is fully instructed on the rules
and safety facts of the track. Each driver will be required to wear a seat
belt and also a safety helmet which will be provided by NAGP. Fire extin-
guishers will be placed in key areas for easy access.
PROPOSAL
- Page Three -
The concept of North American Gran Prix is to provide a safe place for
every person who has ever wanted to drive a real race car to carry out
that ambition. NAGP, like the 100 or more other Gran Prix tracks like
it around the world, provide a nucleus of activity that naturally attracts
other businesses near it.
Because of the strictness that is necessary in the operation of this kind of
business, and because this actually is oriented toward the family, the rowdy
or undesirable -type people will soon learn that there is no room for them at
NAGP.
Gary D. Fey, President
Diversified Enterprises, Inc.
16317 County Road 15
Wayzata, MN 55391
NOISE LEVEL COMPARISON -- MARCH 1981
Average Residence
Backround Music
Conversation
Traffic on Highway 55
from Drive-in Theater
N.A.G.P. Car from speaker
post in Theater
N.A.G.P. Car from fence
of Theater
N.A.G.P. Car from Hamel Road
Traffic on Hamel Road
Train from Hamel Road
Dogs Barking (5 feet)
Thunder
Amplified Rock Music
Air Plane
(dB - A weighting - 500 to 90,000 Hz)
45
60
65
65 - 75
60
65
60
65 - 70
77 - 89
90
108
110
122