More than a dozen other residents along Highway B came to speak out against the changes.

Hickory Ridge opened for its first events in April this year, hosting three mud runs and a truck pull. The current CUP for Hickory Ridge includes restrictions allowing only five events per year and a maximum of 500 attendees at each event.

The Heaths’ company, MSA Heath LLC, is also required to renew the CUP every two years by essentially going through the county approval process again from the start. These restrictions were put in place in 2016 after nearby residents objected to having a motorsport track in the area.

Last week, the Heaths requested the number of events be expanded to 10, and that the spectator restriction and renewal requirement be eliminated entirely. They also asked the planning commission for permission to sell shirts, hats and other merchandise at the track.

George Heath said the company is asking for more event days so they can have five weekends with two consecutive days of competition, a total of 10 events. In other words, the number of weekends with competitions would stay the same, but be expanded to two days.

“All four of our events (this year) were held with the utmost safety of our spectators and the participants in mind. We had zero issues and zero incidents,” Heath said. “We think our venue and events bring a sense of involvement within the local racing community, as well as bringing a safe, family-friendly atmosphere for Warren County residents and the surrounding counties.”

Neighbors opposed

A number of residents in the area of Highway B strongly opposed loosening restrictions. A group of them have been fighting approval of the track since it was first proposed in 2016, including several unsuccessful court challenges. 

Multiple people said the roar of vehicles during events ruins their enjoyment of the peaceful area, and that large vehicle traffic on Highway B creates dangerous conditions.

“We don’t live there permanently. ... That’s our sanctuary where we go on the weekends to escape from the stress of jobs, life, everything,” said Julie Sullivan, whose property is north of the Hickory Ridge property. “It infringes upon our enjoyment of our property from the noise level.”

Another nearby resident, Debra Newbold-Dowden, said noise from the mud run and truck pull events had caused her lost sleep and anxiety.

“Every time you grant them more of anything, you’re taking away the rights from the rest of us, the neighbors that are impacted by the extreme noise,” Dowden said. “When you buy a home in the country, you have a rightful expectation to peace and quiet.”

Peggy Coleman said her family founded their ranch near Highway B in 1840 and never had to deal with this sort of operation. She said county officials are treating the Heaths like they’re better than everyone else.

“I’m fighting to keep what little peace I have. I’m sure none of you would ever want this in your backyard,” Coleman told the planning commission.

Agencies give positive comments

Several county and emergency district leaders spoke at the public hearing. They did not endorse the changes to the Hickory Ridge CUP, but they said none of the motorsport events had caused concern for their agencies.

Jeff Edwan, assistant chief of the Jonesburg-High Hill Fire Protection District, said the track hadn’t caused any safety concerns, including for traffic on Highway B. Hickory Ridge Motorsport Park and much of Highway B are within Edwan’s fire district.

“We have had no increases in accidents on that road at any time. We stood by at three events ... with no incidents,” Edwan said. “Everything is as perfect as you can get for an event.”

Warren County Planning and Zoning Administrator Vickie Vohsen said no written complaints had been received for the venue, and that she attended the first event at Hickory Ridge.

“I felt the event was well planned and well organized. There was plenty of room for parking, spectators, participants and vendors. In my opinion there is ample room for more spectators than is currently allowed,” Vohsen told the planning commission.

Warren County Ambulance District Chief Tim Flake and Sheriff Kevin Harrison said their staff were either at the venue or in the area on event days, and had no reports of incidents at the events. Harrison said he later received two comments related to concerns about traffic and noise.

Commission tables decision

As is common for the planning and zoning commission, the members voted unanimously Oct. 17 to postpone a final decision on the changes until their next meeting Nov. 21.

The commission debated the requested changes to the Hickory Ridge CUP, as well as some additions to the permit that members hoped could alleviate neighbors’ concerns.

Commission member Doug Walters said while a limit of 500 people at the motorsport facility might be too low, some kind of restriction should stay.

“Unlimited wouldn’t be right either. I think we’d want to take a look at that,” Walters said. “Based on comments (during the hearing), 1,500 or 2,000, somewhere in that area might be more acceptable.”

Heath told the commission 1,500 people is the most he would want at the facility.

As for getting rid of the renewal requirement, commission member David Heinlein said at the least, two years is too short of a time.

“From our experience, from this (CUP), two years is definitely not enough because it goes to litigation and then it runs out,” Heinlein said. “I have a feeling here that either way we go, it’s going to go to litigation, whether we approve or disapprove (the changes).”

Heinlein was referring to a court challenge to the original CUP approval in 2016. The Heaths had to renew their CUP before the track ever began operating. The Eastern District Missouri Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Warren County and MSA Heath LLC in June 2018.

To help alleviate some amount of concern from neighbors about noise, commission member Corey Johnston suggested a new requirement that the Heaths provide notice to nearby neighbors about upcoming events. That way, neighbors at least could plan around them.

County attorney Mark Vincent said it wouldn’t be much of a burden for the Heaths to mail event notices to the ten or so property owners within 1,000 feet of the motorsport track. That’s the same range the county uses when mailing notices about upcoming CUP hearings.