Commission OKs sports park (9/14/04)

Despite concerns raised by several local residents, the Portland Planning Commission unanimously approved the final plans Monday evening for a proposed extreme sports park.

Glynn Barber’s proposed park will be located in the Portland Industrial Park north of county road 100 North and west of county road 100 East. Some of the features of the park include rock climbing, paintball, radio-controlled cars and boats, miniature golf and several racing events.

Before the commission made its decision, some Portland residents expressed their concerns.

Cindy Baughn, who lives less than a half mile from where the park would be located, said she is concerned about how the noise caused by the motor bikes will be contained.

She said she has spoken to project manager Craig Adolph and Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier about putting a berm between the bike tracks and her home. Both told her a dirt mound would be placed in that location, but on the map she has seen of the park, there is no berm, she said.

“If we need to place one there, we’ll place one there,” said Adolph. Then, he said there would definitely be a earthen embankment between the tracks, Oakwood Mobile Home Park and other homes west of the proposed park.

Jim Beeler, who lives on county road 100 North, was concerned about the height of the buffers. He asked Adolph how high they would be. Adolph said they would have to be at least eight feet tall.

“I don’t think a mound (of dirt) will work,” said Beeler. He suggested adding trees to help block the noise.

Baughn said she also was wondering just how loud the bikes will be. She said the noise level has been compared to that of a lawnmower.

“I don’t know anybody who’s got 25 lawnmowers going at the same time,” said Baughn.

Adolph said every vehicle run on the tracks will be required to have a muffler. The noise probably couldn’t travel very far, he said.

Barber said, “If you’re right beside a lawnmower, it is annoying. But if you go away, (the noise level) is 80 to 85 decibels.”

At a quarter of a mile away, the sound of the bikes will not be deafening at all, he said. Any bike that doesn’t have a muffler will not be allowed to run on the tracks.

Portland resident Sharon Beeler, who lives on county road 100 North, said she was concerned about noise levels and traffic.

County road 100 East is currently a chip-and-seal surface, and she isn’t sure if it can handle the increased traffic.

“If it gets tore up who fixes it?” she asked.

The responsibility of maintaining and repairing county roads 100 North and East could be shared between the county and city, Hosier said.

“We’re prepared to address all issues,” he added.

Jay County Highway Department superintendent Ken Wellman and Portland street and park superintendent Jeff Harker think the shared responsibility would be a good idea.

“We’re always looking for help in the upkeep of (county) roads,” Wellman said this morning.

“We’re more than happy to work with the county and make a go of (the project),” Harker said.

Wellman and Harker said none of the project officials have contacted them about the roads. The portion of county road 100 North affected by the park is the county’s responsibility, he said. County road 100 East is also maintained by the county.

Harker said the financial aspect of helping with the roads could probably be fit into the 2006 budget for his department.

“It’s something we’ll just have to look at,” he said.

County roads 100 North and East will eventually need to be widened and will need a permanent base, Adolph said Monday evening.

This morning, Jay County engineer Dan Watson said county road 100 North is currently an asphalt surface and could withstand heavy traffic, but county road 100 East has a chip-and-seal coat.

County road 100 East is scheduled to be paved in May or June of next year. The road was set to be resurfaced before the plans for the extreme sports park came about, Watson said. He is not sure how much the road will be widened for the paving, but it could be expanded more for the park if needed. He said he has heard this road is planned to be used as an entrance to the park. If so, it will need to be resurfaced and built up a little bit.

Before the vote was taken Monday evening, Adolph also updated the commission on his meeting with the Jay County Commissioners Monday morning.

The commissioners reviewed preliminary drainage plans for the project, and some changes were made. But no action was taken by the commissioners, who asked Adolph to work with county surveyor Brad Daniels and bring back final plans for consideration.

Barber is hopeful he will be able to break ground on the project this year.[[In-content Ad]]