The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, February 22, 1996            TAG: 9602220311
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: SUFFOLK                            LENGTH: Short :   28 lines

PERMIT TO BUILD SUFFOLK RACETRACK IS EXTENDED

The City Council voted 6-1 to extend a permit to build an auto racetrack that it issued last year to Upton and Arnette Associates.

The action extends the permit for the track, at the intersection of Nansemond Parkway and Shoulders Hill Road, through March 29, 1997. The track was rezoned last March.

Council member Marian ``Bea'' Rogers voted against the extension.

Citizens Against the Racetrack, a group of Suffolk and Chesapeake residents, have been challenging the rezoning of the track's 65 acres in court. The group is expected to file an appeal with the state Supreme Court on Feb. 23.

The council also voted unanimously to strengthen and widen its no-truck zone in the heart of downtown. Only trucks making local deliveries are allowed in the zone, where police can now penalize violators.

KEYWORDS: RACE TRACK PERMIT by CNB