Joe DrennanStaff Writer
Wednesday nightís Columbus Township Planning Commission meeting had a lot of talk about the proposed harness racing track and card room, but in the end no actions were taken.
The North Metro Harness Initiative group had several issues on the agenda that pertained to the harness racing track that would feature a restaurant and card room. The racetrack would be located just north of Gander Mountain on West Freeway Drive off I-35.
EAW
The first issue on the agenda was the North Metro Harness Environmental Assessment Worksheet the group completed. An EAW is a process required by the state and separate from any town requirements. The purpose of an EAW is to gather information on environmental impacts of large projects at maximum development.
The issue of maximum development is what raised some eyebrows on the planning commission at first as members read the EAW and saw plans for a possible parking garage and some other amenities.
Jenny Ross of SRF Consulting represented North Metro in discussing the EAW explained the difference between an EAW and a preliminary plat is that an EAW has planned for the maximum development of a site, but a preliminary plat outlines the initial stages of a project.
The EAW report dealt with issues such as traffic, noise, even the disposal of the large amounts of horse manure that would be produced.
One traffic solution recommended by MnDOT was to relocate the park-n-ride located just north of the CR-2323/Freeway Drive intersection to the grounds of the race track. Another solution would be to relocate the spot at which Freeway Drive intersects with CR-23. The new intersect would be further down CR-23 on the east side of Conoco.
Another issue confronted was noise. Columbus resident Cathleen Lund voiced her concern about noise as she explained that the Halloween festivities that used to take place at Trout-Air were so loud she could hear the public address system at her house.
Jim Druck, president of North Metro, said noise at the track would be very minimal and the public address systems would be aimed toward the stands and not out to the open air like at the old Trout-Air.
Rezoning
In order for the North Metro Harness Initiative to build on its favored site, the land must be rezoned.
The site in the middle of two different zones that do not allow for a racetrack facility. The two zones the land sits on are zoned commercial and commercial showroom district.
Columbus Planner Dean Johnson said the town could go about creating a new district named the horse racing district. Boundaries of the horse racing district would be the boundaries of the racetrack property.
North Metro also has to wait on its application from the Minnesota Racing Commission. North Metro can get all the necessary approvals from the town board to build the racetrack and card room, but if their application is not approved from the racing commission the project could be stopped.
The racetrack would be 5/8 of a mile with a 1400-seat grandstand. 400 of the seats would be outdoors, the other 1000 indoors. There would be a 150-seat restaurant, a 50 table card room, and two stables featuring a total of 165 stalls. Admission to races will be $2.
Citizen thoughts
Several citizens who are against the project showed up last week to voice concerns over traffic, noiseand social issues.
Those living closest to the track were the ones concerned about noise. The issue that most people were most concerned about was traffic though.
ìI guess I feel youíre putting the cart before the horse,î June Wade said. ìShouldnít the traffic issues be dealt with before the rest of things go through?î
The social issues were a bit more complex as residents brought up gambling, alcohol, and the possibility of a short-term RV hook-up in the parking lot of the racetrack.
Ron Barnes of Columbus said he felt the whole project has less to do with horse racing than the expansion of gambling.
Pat Kenney who lives close to the proposed site was concerned about the possible RV parking saying hunters would end up parking there during the hunting season in the hopes to get an early start.
The commission will make its recommendation to the town board after its Jan. 21 meeting.
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