I was in at mcalpin ready freddy gas station
today i pickup newpaper today and i talk to lady she said: they need
somthing for fourwheeler riders out there for kids not running away.
I heard they are trying stop it but we need this ohv
backyard park so bad in this area here.
I hope it passes here.
We need all riders up here to fight this
iuess up here.
You should see this six editor letters for suwwnnee dem crat newpaper
I'll post them on here and I think theses people are nuts in head
up here.They don't know how big atv community in florida and we
have alot atv rednecks here in suwannee county when you drive on roads here in live oak and lake city areas.
Plus i did all typing this for all members out there to see this.I just
copycat from newpaper.
This what i got from newpaper today.
(Letters To The Editor)
1#
Dear,Editor:
This letter is in reference to special exception zoing change
made by zoning board on feb 23 on allowing a racetrack
and campground to go in business on parcels north of county.I am
an adjacent land owner and i was not properly notified by the county.
According to the land development regulations,the board of adjustment is
to give public notice thereof,as well as due notice to all the parties involved.
They did inform in writing to some of the land owners that were north
of this venture with a buffer of 40acres,but failed to inform was how i was
overlooked when the other land owners are onseven to 30acers and mine is
a 300 acre parcel.
Sincerely,Stacey Worth
2#
Dear Editor,
I am writing in regards to the special exception recently passed
allowing an ATV/Dirt bike race track in my nice,quiet,safe community near the river.
Our community is stunned.
Just two years ago our community made it clear how we felt about
race tracks in the area when we fought a similar zoning change.Now,
an exemption that will decimate the way of life
we've so carefully chosen and developed had slipped through.
The big question everyone had asked us is why we didn't do
something to stop it?We would have loved to.Regretfully,only select
adjoining neighbors were notified with limed details.The sing on the
property sits on the end of very narrow dirt road with multiple
bind turns that dead ends at river,only two families drive down there.
The sing even had the wrong date on it up untill 5 days before the meeting!
In the last two weeks two deaths have incurred in gainesville on atv/dirt bike race tracks.Who knows how many were injured.
Is the county planning to an ambulance available during daylight hours.
In my earlier life i race dirt bikes and from experience,I can tell you,
no one wants to live near an atv/dirt bike race track.
Don't let one 20-year-olds' dream override the drem overrider the dreams
of the surrounding community members we have worked so hard for.
We can never get back what we will lose if this track goes through
for the benefit of one.
Thank for your time,Brett deutsch
3#
Dear Editor:
The front page story about the Atv/dirt bike race track that was
approved by zoning board in the fort union neighborhood took
virtually everyone in that neighborhood by surprise.We believe
the track owner successfully hid her intentions from her
neighbors,knowing that the last time a track was proposed for our
area approximately 100 neighbors showed up to protest it.The
property is near the end of a dead end road,so virtually no
neighbors saw the zoning sign.
The plan calls for racing from 8am to 8pm seven days a week,with an
estimated 450 carloads each week.Within a half mile from the race track
are two churches,a cemetery, the suwannee river(along with the florida wilderness trail),and many homes.The road leading to the track is a small
dirt road on which children often ride bikes and horses.None of the people
associated with any of these interests,no any families on the road,were
notified,nor were they mentioned in the hearing.
The property owners presented pages of information I conside
misleading to the zoning board in which they made claims that
such tracks raised adjoining property values and attracted wildlife.
Although the information was purported to be from various web sites,
the web addresses had been removed from every page,
preventing anyone from finding the sources to check for veracity
or context.
The propert owner ststed that having a race track had been her son's
dream for 12years.What about the dreams of all the neighbors who
have wored a lifetime to save for their homes and retirement?
How many people do you know who are clamoring to
live next door to a race track?
We are asking the property owners and the county to do the
right thing,and have this matter brought up in full light rather than having
neighbors upset because their voice couldn't be heard becuase
they weren't notified.If they truly believed they were doing something for
the community,this is how it should have been done,and
how we expect good neighbors to do it.
Caroline Coile
4#
Dear, Editor,
My family recently moved to live oak (Fort Union area)from
fort lauderdale.Our desire was to escape the noise,pollution,
crowding and stress,whice are common down south.
Unfortunately,it appears our dream is to be short-lived.One of
our neghnors hads petitioned to put in a racetrack for 4wheelers
that will be open to the public.
This is not welcome change for our area.
As new comers, we tolerated the occasional appearance of 4wheelers.
The end result of their vists is trash strewn about and the unpaved road
(the only access to our home)being torn up by them doing"donuts" with their machines.
It is still to be determined if the letter of the law was met in the
notification process(I believe virtually no one was aware of this),
but it most certainly did not meet the spirit.
Suwannee County needs to grow but in a sensible and well
planned fashion,neither piecemeal nor catering to special intertests.
If this is any indication of what to expect from our zoning board,
it does not bode well for suwannee County's future.
Rocky Stewart
5#
Dear, Editor:
On thursday,Feb 23, the suwannee couty zoning board
conducted a meeting at the live oak city hall.On their agenda
was a proposal for a variance in land usage that was zone
agricultural.The proposal was allow the building of a motorcycle/
Atv race track.The 80-acre tract of land is located in northern portion of
suwannee county,north of CR 132, and very close to the Florida
Sheriffs youth ranch.A sizeable gathering of people were in
attendance supporting the proposed zoning change.A very small
group of local residents were present to contest the zoning change.
Approximately 10 minutes into the proceedings it became very
apparent to me that the zoning board had already made up
their mind grant the variance.
Testimony was given by the petitioner stating the construction
of the race track would have a positive impact upon suwannee
county.How surrounding land values would not be affected or
could even increase in value.Do you really think that after this
track becomes operational that anyone would go to real estate office
and ask if they had any land for sale next to noisy race track.
I think not!
Next,the board allowed those who were not in favor of the zoning
change to state their thoughts.The mainconcern of those opposed
to the zoning change was the loss of property value and the
environmental noise pollution.Board chairman tommie jefferson
seemed to be amused by the pleas asking that the zoning change
be refused.I realiszed that all the pleading were falling on deaf ears.
Most of the people in attendance who opposed the zone change
had not become aware of the scheduled board meeting untill the
afternoon of the meeting.It was pointed out by the board that all
legal requirements had been followed.A legal notice had been run in
the suwannee democrat,a sing had been posted on the effected
property site and a written notice had been sent to the effected
residents who lived within 300feet of the proposed race track.
What the board did not take into consideration was the fact that
property owners who live within several miles of the race track
will be adversely effected also.
It was requsted that out of common courtesy and fairness
the board postpone its vote on the iuess untill the local
residents who will be effected by the race track are contacted and
allowed to testify.Jefferson rejected this request,stating he felt
no futther testimony was needed.
The board voted unanimously to allow the zoning change.
One member of the board exused herself from th voting due
to posible conflict of interest.She stated she had family members
who lived in the effected area.
By allowing this zoning change,the zoning board has placed
one person's personal financial gains far above the peace
and tranquillity of hundreds of citizens of suwanne county who will
be adversely effected by the change.These people,including myself,
purchased property in a part of the county that is zoned agricultural.
They wanted peace and quiet.After the construction of the race track,
that will come to an end.The track will be open from 8am until 8pm
Now, half of our life will be spent listening to unmuffled motorcycles
and ATV's racing on the track.The peace and quiet of country living will
be no more.
After seeing this zoning change occur,I think it would be in the
best interest of all concerned,that the board of county commissioners
adopt and ordinance and require all real estate agencies who sell
land in suwannee county place the following notice on the
property listing:
"WARNING:Even though the property you are considering
buying is zoned agricultural,there is always the possibility that the
suwannee county zoning board could change the zoning classification
and allow someone to build a race track in your backyard."
Respectively,
Leon gill jr.
#6
Dear, Editor,
Please imagine 40 motorcycles all going full throttle
12hours per day seven days a week within hearing distance
of your backyard.Then imagine a camping facility next to the
racetrack to fill the night with displeasing music and partying with
alcohol allowed.This noise can be heard over two miles away.
These are the plans of one family in a rural community that
hads for years prided itself in the quiet and serenity that can
only be found in such a rual setting.
On february 23 the suwannee county zoning
board agreed with the one family.Not with the entire
community of residents and landowners who voiced their
objections in no uncertain terms.
What led the board to this decision?
The zoning board is instructed by the comprehensive
zoning rules to address the affect this racetrack will
have on public health,safety,welfare,order,comfort,
appearance,prosperity,access impact,taffic flow and control,
fire or castastrophe,compatibility with existing land use,noise,glare,
odor,dust,and smoke.
The board is further instructed that stisfactory provision and
arroangements have been made concerning the following
matters:
.The Exist Land use pattern
.The Impact on pubic roads
.The impact on living conditions in the neghborhood
.The impact upon traffic congestion or other public
safety matters
.The impact of the proposed use upon property values
.The impact of the proposed use with regard to the scale
of needs of the neighborhood or the community Again,
the neighborhood of over a 2-mile radius is anxious to
know why the board failed to address each and every one of
issues.
The decision the zoning board had given this proposed permit is,
if not illegal,at the very least morally reprehensible.
I beliveve that a full review by the elected ruling bodies of the
county be taken.If not that,then alegal appeal should
be pursued.
Charles Bartley
Please address letters to:
Letters To The Editor, Suwannee DemoCrat,
PO Box 370, Live Oak,FL 32064.
Full Name:
Full Address
Daytime phone #
