Small Calabogie Update

[dguy]

Copied from this article at The Ottawa Sun Online, without permission.


Death stalls decision on controversial racetrack
By TOM VAN DUSEN, Ottawa Sun

CALABOGIE -- More than a month after a final public meeting to discuss the fate of a proposed race track here, undermanned Greater Madawaska council is still struggling with its decision. Resolving the controversy, which has been hanging over the tourism-oriented rural municipality for more than a year, has been made all the more difficult by the sudden Easter Sunday death of Reeve Paul Doyle.

Since then, council has appointed one of its own, Isobel Kristijan, to take over.

Promotion of a sitting councillor in such circumstances is permitted under the Ontario Municipal Act.

INCREASING NOISE

Shifting Kristijan has created a vacancy on council which will be filled through a by-election, the date for which has not yet been set.

Kristijan said council is now awaiting final licensing and site plan agreements from the developers of Calabogie MotorSports Park before deciding if it will grant a zoning change on a 275-acre site where preparatory work has already begun.

Critics say the track will devalue their properties by increasing noise and traffic, ruining the pristine environment which specializes in golf, skiing and watersports.

Council's decision could come as early as June 12, the novice reeve said.

Declining to state her own position, Kistijan said she won't have to vote because, with only three councillors now in office rather than the usual four, a tie isn't possible.

vandusen@cyberus.ca

[dguy]

Another update, unabashedly stolen from here.

Calabogie battle on track for OMB
By SEAN MEAGHER, Ottawa Sun


 
The clock is running down for a group of Renfrew residents opposed to a race track being built in Calabogie. Calabogie Motorsports has already built the track on a 275-acre site, which neighbours the Madawaska River and Stones Lake, and will likely receive its rezoning permits at tonight's council meeting in Calabogie.

That would leave residents concerned about the noise and environmental impact of the track with only one option: An appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.

"I don't know how well we're going to do there, but we're going to try ... the OMB is our last-ditch effort," said resident Peggie Cassidy. "The council here have been so pro-track that they haven't listened to the residents that are going to be affected."

Jack Ledger is one of those residents. He had been planning to buy land near the track site for his retirement in two years, but said he will have to change his plans if the race track is approved.

"There's a good possibility that any spillage over there, if there is some kind of a major accident, that it's going to go down into the groundwater and eventually find its way into the river or the lake," he said.

Track spokesman John Hamilton said investors have secured all necessary provincial and municipal approvals, including a noise impact study.

sean.meagher@ott.sunpub.com

[aaron88]

Say they will open 1st of July!  Yay!!!!

http://www.calabogiemotorsports.com/trackstatus.htm