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Press of Atlantic City, Nov. 22, 2005
MILLVILLE DROPS GREEN FLAG ON MOTORSPORTS PARK
By Joyce Vanaman, Staff Writer, (856) 825-2303
MILLVILLE -- N.J. Motorsports Park LLC's site plan application for the
first phase of a $100 million complex to be built near Millville
Airport received the enthusiastic approval of the Planning Board on
Monday.
Approximately 100 supporters of the project filled City Commission
chambers, with just a couple of people from Porreca Drive and Laurel
Lake expressing concerns about noise.
But to most of the audience, the sounds from the raceway would
literally be music to their ears. Many repeated Downe Township's
Bernie Sayres who said, "Start the engines."
Those engines should start in the spring 2007, with construction
expected to start in March. The first phase is expected to cost $50
million. Completion of the entire three phases is projected for 2011,
although one of the principals, Lee Brahin, said he hopes it will be
even sooner.
When all three phases are completed, the complex will have about 1,500
full- and part-time employees. Phase one is expected to create 300
construction jobs and 200 permanent jobs.
Area officials have described this as the biggest economic development
project in the history of Cumberland County.
Commercial Township Mayor George Garrison said the motor sports
complex would benefit not only Millville, but the region.
The main focus of the first phase is the 4.1-mile Thunderbolt Raceway,
named for the P-47 plane used to train fighter pilots at Millville
Airport, known during World War II as America's First Defense Airport.
Among the other components of phase one cited by Gary Wodlinger,
attorney for the developers, are a clubhouse, garages, villas, a
driving school, karting track, administration building and some other
amenities.
Wodlinger also reported that the U.S. Department of Interior, National
Park Service, said the motor sports complex would not have a negative
impact on the Wild and Scenic Maurice River.
David Shropshire, a professional engineer and planner from Medford,
Burlington County, reported on a sound analysis, which took readings
from 21 different locations. including Silver Run School and the Bevan
Wildlife Management Tract, as well as Porreca Drive, the closest
residential area.
Shropshire pointed out that a commercial establishment could be open
from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and generate 65 decibels, which was more than
the 55 decibels recorded at Porreca Drive normally.
This was disputed by Harry Fisher of Porreca Drive, who said that
another sound engineer had said the level was about 45.
City Commissioner Joe Derella, also a Planning Board member, pointed
out that Shropshire's testing was at 21 sites while the other
engineer's testing was at one site.
Dave Morris, a race car driver from Ocean City, said he currently has
to drive to a race track four hours each way and has spent thousands
of dollars on hotel rooms and other costs.
"I would like to be able to race nearer to home," he noted.
Sayres, who formerly ran parachute schools in Pennsylvania and New
Jersey, said the wives usually look for something else to do. He
predicted that the downtown arts district would benefit from the
visitors who came to the motor sports complex.
"It will be a huge economic and educational benefit to the area," said
Barry Taylor of Upper Township, Cape May County, who served as co-
chairman of the Green Flag Committee, which promoted the motor sports
complex.
Taylor, the former president of Wheaton Village, said that Wheaton
Village, the arts district, the Levoy Theatre project and the
Millville Army Air Field Museum would all benefit. "It's time to start
our engines and move forward."
Jim Hertig, spokesman for the Millville Center City Neighborhood
Group, said members are for the motor sports complex because it would
provide needed job opportunities and ratables that would bring some
tax relief.
All three principals, Brahin, Harvey Siegel and Joe Savaro, were at
the meeting. In voting for the site plan application, board member
George Mitchell thanked them for their patience and cooperation and
going above and beyond to meet with the neighbors and others.
A compromise agreement previously was reached that ended a lawsuit
initiated by several environmental groups against the Planning Board.
The city of Millville, Cumberland County and N.J. Motorsports Park LLC
had joined the suit as interveners in support of the Planning Board.
Announcement of the settlement took place on the approximately 700-
acre project site off Dividing Creek Road near Millville Airport
earlier this month.
The compromise agreement addresses issues related to noise, wildlife
and traffic, issues that had been raised by the environmentalists at
previous public hearings.
To e-mail Joyce Vanaman at The Press: JVanaman@pressofac.com
Copyright 2005 South Jersey Publishing Company
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