Claremont
The board wants to make a site visit to the property and get more information on the water supply, which would come from a well. There also would be an onsite septic system.
A number of abutters to the property attended the hearing and most urged the board to reject the variance in the rural residential zone.
John and Grace Horvath, who live on Thrasher Road, where the speedway is located, said losing their water supply was their primary concern.
With 149 sites, the Horvaths said, there could be up to 700 people in the campground using the same well as the Horvarths and their neighbors.
“I don’t want my well to dry up, or our neighbors,” Grace Horvath said. “I would like to see them tap into the city water.”
Others worried about noise, drainage, traffic safety with more cars on Thrasher Road, and the impact on property values.
“I guarantee you property would be affected,” said Don Thompson, who spoke for his elderly aunt, Rose Maley.
Thompson also urged impact studies be done on water and property values.
Another Thrasher Road resident, Chuck Egbert, who lives next to the speedway, said there is a lot that was not mentioned in the presentation, including the tons of asphalt buried on the site and the effect that removing all the trees had on the area.
“They totally changed the character of the neighborhood with dust and noise by getting rid of those trees,” Egbert said.
Before the public spoke, a presentation was made by Jim Ambrose, one of the three speedway owners, and others representing the speedway, including attorney Richard Uchida, of Concord.
“It is not high intensity and complements what is there and has minimal impact on the neighborhood,” Ambrose said, pointing out these will be seasonal campers who will stay from May to October or from November to March. There would be no tent sites or daily, weekly or monthly stays allowed, he said.
Jonathan Halle of Warrenstreet architects went into detail in a PowerPoint presentation on how the plan was designed to ensure security and safety, including a 6-foot deer fence along the backside of the campground and another fence by the road.
The plan also includes a recreation field and building, as well as a pool.
“A lot of thought went into the plan to present it as a viable and achievable plan,” Halle said.
“We think this is a reasonable use given all that we are planning to do,” Uchida said.
Even if the variance is approved, site plan approval from the Planning Board is required.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
