Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

It's not over yet, but it's a good start:

 

PRINCETON - The Bureau County Planning Commission on Thursday unanimously approved recommending a conditional-use permit be issued to allow a 10-mile all-terrain-vehicle and motorcycle riding track in Mineral Township.

Applicant Duane Wirth of rural Sheffield was denied a similar permit Tuesday by the County Board that would have allowed ATV and motorcycle racing instead of "leisure riding." The board's decision came after nearly five months of delay in the appeal process.

 

Neighbors around the proposed site attended Thursday's meeting in protest of Wirth's plans to build the riding park. They say racing or riding, it's all the same.

 

"We're just a bunch of good people trying to keep our neighborhood a neighborhood. We just want to keep the community the same," said Pat Schofield, who lives near the proposed park.

 

Residents fear that noise, dust and the crowd of people the park will draw will hamper the wilderness and tranquility of their neighborhood.

 

While the Planning Commission doesn't hear any testimony, the matter will now move on to the Bureau County Zoning Board of Appeals at 7 p.m. Thursday at the County Courthouse, where neighbors once again will plead their case.

 

Wilbur Giltner, chairman of the Planning Commission, said that based on the information presented from Wirth and his son, Andy Wirth, the commission believes the project won't deteriorate the neighborhood.

 

"I think we did the right thing. If the Board of Appeals doesn't like it, they can change it," Giltner said.

 

He said the commission approved another ATV park near Walnut about two years ago. "I don't feel it is right to turn this one down."

 

Commission member Jon Pickering made the original motion for approval. "They have met the requirements," he said.

 

Besides trials, a concession stand and ticket booth would also be built as part of the ATV park, Andy Wirth said. It would operate three days a week from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...