Bad news out of Bowling Green as the Bowling Green Daily News is reporting that the NCM Motorsports Park racetrack has received a notice from the City-County Planning Commission that is effectively an order to cease all activities at the track, racing, construction and all, under the accusation that the track is out of compliance with the Warren County joint zoning ordinance. Additionally, with delivery of the notice, NCM Motorsports Park is required to provide a construction site plan compliance summary within seven days, a detailed construction outline and timeline must be issued to “comply with binding elements and the detailed development plan approved for the development, including a noise abatement structure” within 30 days, and there is a 90-day deadline for the track to verify everything is in order with the planning commission.

NCM Motorsports Park issued a statement on June 30th:

The NCM Motorsports Park has recently been fielding noise complaints from residents in an adjacent neighborhood. We have been working closely with residents and others and have hired an experienced sound mitigation company to address the noise issues.

On June 29th, at the close of a follow-up meeting with the neighborhood representatives, Planning Commission representative, local magistrate, NCM Motorsports Park representatives and the sound company, the NCM Motorsports Park was issued a Notice of Violation. The meeting participants had just agreed on a plan for data collection beginning mid-July, continuing for about two months to then be analyzed by the sound company who would make a recommendation of options to mitigate the sound levels. Everyone attending the meeting including the Planning Commission representative, the neighborhood committee and the local magistrate all were in agreement that ceasing event activity at this time is not necessary or warranted. The timing of the Notice was most unfortunate as a very meaningful meeting had just concluded with an acceptable plan to move forward to address the noise issues. The sound company representative went with the neighborhood committee to explore the suggested locations and also talked with several other neighborhood residents.

We intend to move forward with the agreement reached at the meeting, therefore the NCM Motorsports Park will fulfill all contracts with our renters as well as continue construction on our planned facilities at the NCM Motorsports Park. We plan to move forward with business as usual, we will not cancel any scheduled events and will continue to book events for future years.

The management team continues to work closely with the local Planning Commission, sound company and neighborhood committee and is making all efforts to bring quick resolution to the noise complaints. Our goals are to offer impeccable customer service to our renters and guests, and be a good neighbor to our community.

We also plan to meet with appropriate officials, to respond timely to the notice and to provide updates on the progress toward total compliance. Although it will take some time to have the sound sources and levels evaluated, determine possible options for mitigation, and implement the appropriate solution, we feel that we are making progress and have a good plan in place. Neighbors commented that they are supportive of the Motorsports Park operations and want it to be successful, as long as the noise does not impair their ability to enjoy their home and property. That is our goal as well.

Hopefully NCM Motorsports Park can reach an agreeable solution with the neighborhood nearby. The economic impact that the track is providing to Warren County, Kentucky is huge, and the track has proven to be a success, with events booked out for years to come, and it would be an extremely sad deal to see a track this new fall victim to noise issues.