THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503030182
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONY WHARTON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Opponents of a proposed race track in Suffolk petitioned the City Council again Wednesday to kill the project, even drawing in Chesapeake residents to support their case.
But the residents talked far more than the council during the 30-minute meeting. Council members did not respond to the complaints about the track.
A special council meeting has been scheduled for 8 a.m. Monday. City officials refused to say what it will be about.
Citizens Against the Racetrack turned out more than 40 people, each wearing a yellow badge with a stock car blocked out.
``I just want to appeal to you as individuals,'' said Dave Sarratt of Suffolk, who built his house not far from the proposed track location. ``The government thinks more of a shrew or a rattlesnake, as far as protecting them, than its own citizens. Have we come to that?''
Residents, who have filed a lawsuit to stop the project, said the city does not know how much noise the track would generate. They also argue the resulting traffic would block roads needed by fire-rescue vehicles.
``The only noise test I heard about was a joke, some cars running in a field with a hand-held decibel meter,'' said Clemae Smith. ``We need tests done in actual areas where there are race tracks.''
Race track opponents are hoping to increase their political clout by including residents of Western Branch in Chesapeake. Western Branch civic leagues last year forced a private company to withdraw plans to build a halfway house there.
Suffolk resident Mary Richardson told the council she wants none of her tax dollars spent on the track: ``You're going to need some money to fund this track. I am here to ask you, do not spend the taxpayers' money to fund the track while it is in litigation. If I can't rest, you won't rest. I'll be up here every time.''
One Suffolk resident, who had not even planned to speak on the issue, came forward to say he wants the track. Dennis Godwin said, ``There are others in this city who like the job you're doing and do not oppose this race track.''
Godwin said the track would broaden the city's tax base and provide more entertainment. Personally, he said, he would spend money at the track that he now spends outside the city. ILLUSTRATION: ON MAC TV 13
City Council meetings are telecast live beginning at 7 p.m. on
Municipal Access TV/Channel 13 on Falcon Cable. The shows are
repeated at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. the following Thursday through
Sunday.
KEYWORDS: RACE TRACK SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL by CNB