“It’s a mess”…that was the comment from Daviess County Commissioner’s President Nathan Gabhart after a special public hearing centered on a motocross track near Odon and county zoning. The purpose was to have those involved state their cases on the matter.
Both sides were given a 45 minute opening comment time, a rebuttal and a closing statement.
Michael Leighty, representing Painted Acres Subdivision as well as his group CAZA the Citizens Against Zoning Association, reiterated his issue is not with racing, but quality of life like noise and dust and hundreds at the track and camping in the area on race weekends in his and his neighbors backyards. He also cited a series of what he called “breakdowns” in how the Board of Zoning Appeals, Area Plan Commission and County Commissioners handled establishing zoing in a county that had no zoning until Westgate and I69. He said there is an appearance of changing the rules in the middle of the game and that county government seems biased on allowing the track to be built and operate even though he says it was done in violation of the rules. He took issue with a decision to change the zoning ordinance in October last year. Commissioner Michael Taylor was president of the commissioners then…
Leighty said he’s been advised he can sue, but doesn’t want to…
Zach Baily with the Hanson Law Firm in Washington representing Lance Parsons and his Motocross track and business, spent his opening remarks showing a power point disputing Leighty’s claims of excessive dust. He also read a letter of support from a neighbor in favor of the track and from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management saying there were no violations. He called Leighty’s and CAZA’s statements and allegations defamatory and a waste of taxpayer time and money. He added Parsons Motoscross has acted in good faith and within the bounds of the law. Bailey urged the commissioners to thoroughly examine an over 180 page binder given to them by Parsons which is his response to Leighty’s allegations about the track.
President of the Daviess County Commissioners, Nathan Gabhart says says the current situation is a collateral result of what was intended in implementing zoning.
Gabhart says the choices are to do nothing, enforce current zoning or again, get rid of zoning.
Gabhart set a timeline of 90 days to make a decision,