Augusta County said yes to a $2 million sports park that includes a controversial motorcross track.
The board of zoning appeals granted a permit for the complex, which will be located behind the Pilot Travel Center off Route 11 near Greenville. Plans call for an indoor skate park, climbing walls and paintball arenas as well as BMX and motorcross racing. That drew sharp criticism from neighbors who said the noise would be like listening to chainsaws for hours on end every weekend.
"The sound may be within the decibel limit. But it's the nature of the sound. It's a whining up and down...it's something that catches your attention...it's very different from the interstate. This is not a white noise," said Richard Falls, who opposes the complex.
Sports park co-developer Terry Argenbright said, "It's not about motorcross, it's not about skate park. It's about providing for the families at large, where everybody is welcome and everybody gets to participate."
Zoning board members voted 4 to 1 in favor of the sports park, saying developers took great pains to minimize traffic noise.
The board of zoning appeals granted a permit for the complex, which will be located behind the Pilot Travel Center off Route 11 near Greenville. Plans call for an indoor skate park, climbing walls and paintball arenas as well as BMX and motorcross racing. That drew sharp criticism from neighbors who said the noise would be like listening to chainsaws for hours on end every weekend.
"The sound may be within the decibel limit. But it's the nature of the sound. It's a whining up and down...it's something that catches your attention...it's very different from the interstate. This is not a white noise," said Richard Falls, who opposes the complex.
Sports park co-developer Terry Argenbright said, "It's not about motorcross, it's not about skate park. It's about providing for the families at large, where everybody is welcome and everybody gets to participate."
Zoning board members voted 4 to 1 in favor of the sports park, saying developers took great pains to minimize traffic noise.
