Most pictures are near the proposed racetrack development site.
Legal and Policy Issues
The process of zoning, environmental evaluation, and permitting involves statues, rules, ordinances, and plans. Pierce County should follow the policies set forth in their planning, ordinances, and established precedent as they deal with the proposed racetrack.
some of the current legal and policy issues
Proposal Goes Against Future Land-Use Planning
Proposal Goes Against Future Land-Use Planning
Proposal Goes Against Future Land-Use Planning
The Racetrack Proposal is in conflict with existing "future land-use" designations in the city’s current comprehensive plan. These future land-use designations - which River Falls citizens and adjacent property owners have used to make decisions about where to live, what property to purchase, etc. were approved by the community through a
The Racetrack Proposal is in conflict with existing "future land-use" designations in the city’s current comprehensive plan. These future land-use designations - which River Falls citizens and adjacent property owners have used to make decisions about where to live, what property to purchase, etc. were approved by the community through a formal process. This is a key reason the planning commission and River Falls City Council should tell Kinnik Development Group "no” to a Racetrack in our River Falls community.
Deny the Noisemaker
Proposal Goes Against Future Land-Use Planning
Proposal Goes Against Future Land-Use Planning
It is very important to be aware that this developer's similar proposal in Rice County, Minnesota included a noise pollution study, and an EAW was performed by consultants hired by the developer. The data showed the complex would violate the noise standards upon opening. The report admitted many noise-producing elements of the complex wer
It is very important to be aware that this developer's similar proposal in Rice County, Minnesota included a noise pollution study, and an EAW was performed by consultants hired by the developer. The data showed the complex would violate the noise standards upon opening. The report admitted many noise-producing elements of the complex were not included in the study, which consisted solely of computer simulation. The modeled results included only road course (racetrack) noise pollution. The data showed that these results will violate the state's regulations. Rather than allowing the track to open and try to fix the problem, as recommended in the EAW, Minnesota required Rice County not give permission for the complex to open.
Under Pierce County regulations, the noise allowed would be between 55-60 decibels. One car race, according to WebMD, has a level as high as 130 decibels. According to Decibel Pro: dB Sound Level Meter, 100 decibels is a high decibel level. It is considered dangerous to human hearing and can cause hearing damage or hearing loss if your exposure to it exceeds 15 minutes. Now imagine being exposed to this sound throughout the day, possibly all day, as the developer said this racetrack could be open at 8 a.m. and go into the late afternoon.
Environmental Studies
Proposal Goes Against Future Land-Use Planning
Environmental Studies
With the potential environmental damage this racetrack could have on wildlife, waterways - especially in cases of accidents with uncontrolled contaminants - an Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) needs to be conducted to determine short-term and long-term damage this racetrack would have on the environment; Click Here for information on
With the potential environmental damage this racetrack could have on wildlife, waterways - especially in cases of accidents with uncontrolled contaminants - an Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) needs to be conducted to determine short-term and long-term damage this racetrack would have on the environment; Click Here for information on Wisconsin's WISCONSIN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT and Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA), which states "the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA [PDF exit DNR]) set forth the state’s environmental policy and created section 1.11, Wis. Stats [exit DNR]. Under WEPA, all state agencies must analyze, consider and disclose the anticipated environmental impacts of certain proposed actions, along with reasonable alternatives to those actions...."
For information on this topic, as it was discussed for the developer in the Rice County racetrack, read the entire MPCA report (6).
Even More Issues
Reinforcing Need for EIS
Reinforcing Need for EIS
Reinforcing Need for EIS
In addition to the reasoning for the EIS previously discussed, this proposal is sited on unsewered land and seeks approval for several residential units in a variety of attached configurations. According to the Wisconsin DNR website, Click Here, "Providing sewer service in an unsewered community tends to create many challenges and raise
In addition to the reasoning for the EIS previously discussed, this proposal is sited on unsewered land and seeks approval for several residential units in a variety of attached configurations. According to the Wisconsin DNR website, Click Here, "Providing sewer service in an unsewered community tends to create many challenges and raise many questions for a community." A study is mandatory to study the impact environmentally and financially for this proposed racetrack. Under the Wisconsin Clean Water Act Chapter 281, subchapter II, which indicates Click Here, "The department shall serve as the central unit of state government to protect, maintain and improve the quality and management of the waters of the state, ground and surface, public and private. Continued pollution of the waters of the state has aroused widespread public concern. It endangers public health and threatens the general welfare. A comprehensive action program directed at all present and potential sources of water pollution whether home, farm, recreational, municipal, industrial or commercial is needed to protect human life and health, fish and aquatic life, scenic and ecological values and domestic, municipal, recreational, industrial, agricultural and
other uses of water."
Transparent Government
Reinforcing Need for EIS
Reinforcing Need for EIS
Going forward, it is imperative that all government agencies involved in this racetrack proposal should continue to practice transparency of information for their constituents.
Wisconsin Legislature: 19.31 - Wisconsin Legislative Documents
19.31 Declaration of policy. In recognition of the fact that a representative government is dependent
Going forward, it is imperative that all government agencies involved in this racetrack proposal should continue to practice transparency of information for their constituents.
Wisconsin Legislature: 19.31 - Wisconsin Legislative Documents
19.31 Declaration of policy. In recognition of the fact that a representative government is dependent upon an informed electorate, it is declared to be the public policy of this state that all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them. Further, providing persons with such information is declared to be an essential function of a representative government and an integral part of the routine duties of officers and employees whose responsibility it is to provide such information. To that end, ss. 19.32 to 19.37 shall be construed in every instance with a presumption of complete public access, consistent with the conduct of governmental business. The denial of public access generally is contrary to the public interest, and only in an exceptional case may access be denied.
Mandatory EIS
Reinforcing Need for EIS
Mandatory EIS
An EIS is Mandatory.
If the racetrack proposal exceeds the threshold for a mandatory EIS for the State of Wisconsin, an Environmental Impact Statement is required of a state agency by the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act, s. 1.11, Wisconsin Statutes, when that agency proposes a major action affecting the environment. This states "All age
An EIS is Mandatory.
If the racetrack proposal exceeds the threshold for a mandatory EIS for the State of Wisconsin, an Environmental Impact Statement is required of a state agency by the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act, s. 1.11, Wisconsin Statutes, when that agency proposes a major action affecting the environment. This states "All agencies of the state shall:
(c) Include in every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation and other major actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, a detailed statement, substantially following the guidelines issued by the United States council on environmental quality under P.L. 91-190, 42 USC 4331, by the responsible official on:
1. The environmental impact of the proposed action;
2. Any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented;
3. Alternatives to the proposed action;
4. The relationship between local short-term uses of the human environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity;
5. Any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources that would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented; and
6. Such statement shall also contain details of the beneficial aspects of the proposed project, both short term and long term, and the economic advantages and disadvantages of the proposal.
(d) Prior to making any detailed statement, the responsible official shall consult with and obtain the comments of any agency which has jurisdiction or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved. Copies of such statement and the comments and views of the appropriate agencies, which are authorized to develop and enforce environmental standards shall be made available to the governor, the department of natural resources and to the public."
"100 decibels is a high decibel level. It is considered dangerous to human hearing and can cause hearing damage or hearing loss if your exposure to it exceeds 15 minutes."
Decibel Pro: dB Sound Level Meter
