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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCUP 42J; Carlsbad Raceway; Conditional Use Permit (CUP).-. - STAFF REPORT DATE : July 13, 1983 TO : Planning Commission FROM: Land Use Planning Office SUBJECT: CUP-42(J) - CITY OF CARLSBAD - Amendment to Carlsbad Raceway Conditional Use Permit to update conditions. I. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Planning Commission APPROVE the Megative Declaration filed by the Land Use Planning Manager and ADOPT Resolution No. 2151, APPROVING CUP-42(J), based on the findings and subject to the conditions contained therein. 11. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND At the February 23, 1983 Planning Commission meeting, the Commission reviewed an informational report on the background and status of the numerous Carlsbad Raceway CUP'S, and directed staff to recommend revised and updated conditions to take to public hearing. Complaints had been received regarding the level of noise generated during the Saturday night drag races which prompted this action. The Planning Commission requested staff to investigate this issue and report their results. Carlsbad Raceway has been in existence since 1963. It can be divided into three main parts, the motocross course, the drag strip, and a 14 acre children's recreation area at the entrance to the site. This children's area has served as a water-slide, skateboard park, catfishing park, etc. and is presently utilized as a bicycle motocross. Staff believes that CUP-42(G) adequately covers the children's area and does not recommend any changes in this CUP. This report covers the remainder of the Raceway property, including the motocross course, drag strip, and related bleachers, parking, etc. Raceway Management presently runs two weekly regularly scheduled events, Saturday night drag races and Sunday Day motocross races. In addition, up to five special events are conducted per year. These special events include the International Motocross Race and the International Superbike Race. Our office has received complaints from residents in this area, primarily the Meadowlark Community in San Marcos, regarding excess noise being generated by the dragsters on Saturday night. No complaints have been received concerning the Sunday or Special event races. It should be noted that, to date, complaints have numbered less than 10 persons, while those in the area indicating noise is not a problem is well in excess of 200 persons. -. A / -- Noise Monitoring A review of CUP files on the raceway reveals no conditions that effectively regulate noise generation. Recent noise studies, including sound monitoring, have been conducted regarding these Saturday night noise impacts. Sound monitoring by Bioaccoustical Engineering, in 1981, for the Rancho Carillo EIR, concluded that "the Saturday night dragsters produce a very limited noise impact", and is less significant than "motor vehicle traffic along Palomar Airport Road". A noise assessment by Envirosystems, Inc., in 1983, for the Meadowlark Farms EIR in San Marcos, concluded that the drag races "do not produce noise levels which are excessive or incompatible" with residential development. A 1982 study conducted by San Diego County as a result of noise complaints, did not conclude that a significant problem exists. In 1983, our staff monitored the site and arrived at a similar conclusion. Since the City of Carlsbad has no maximum noise standards, we use the County Noise Ordinance as a guideline. This ordinance sets hourly averaqe noise limits which vary during different times of the day. This Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) is based on a sound energy average which weights loud noises logarithmically heavier than soft ones. The scale for sound from the drag races allows a CNEL of 50 dB up to 1O:OO P. M., and 45 dB after this time. The Saturday night races usually average approximately 60 runs (two vehicles at a time) down the quarter mile drag strip during the three and a half hours of operation. Generally ten of these runs involve louder, modified vehicles that are not street- 1egal.The amount of noise generated varies from vehicle to vehicle but each noise period lasts approximately 5 to 10 seconds. Discussions with sound experts have led staff to conclude that the CNEL formula for measuring noise generation is an accurate and appropriate method of measurement. Loud sounds, of a short duration, such as the 5-10 second races, are recorded as an SEL (single event level), and influence the meter heavily. Based on this formula, staff has recommended the inclusion of a condition which would regulate the SEL, and, as a result, the CNEL. This condition can easily be enforced by regualr monitoring. The raceway owner has indicated his full cooperation in barring vehicles which exceed this standard from racing. Racers will be notified that loud dragsters will jeopardize the raceway permit. In addition, staff is recommending an earlier (10:30 P.M.) Saturday night race time limitation, and the planting of a dense landscape barrier along the section of the drag strip adjacent to the Rancho Carillo Valley. Sound does reverberate down this valley to the area where complaints have originated. Staff believes that the inclusion of these conditions will help the noise problem. -2- Site Improvements It is important to recognize the fact that the raceway is not an ultimate use for the site. The general plan has recently been changed, at the request of the property owners, to Planned Industrial and Office Uses. Staff has had considerable discussions regarding development of the site. As a result, while staff recommends certain on-site maintenance improvements, it would be counterproductive to ask the operator to expend large sums of money on a temporary use. The improvements recommended include the repair and maintenance of the perimeter fence, and refurbishing the entrance (ticket booth) area. Future Review Due to the ambiguity of the several previous CUP'S on the raceway, legitimate questions have arisen as to the expiration date for its operation. Our office recommends that the CUP be reviewed in three years, with an annual review thereafter, and a five year expiration date. While the raceway is presently in a rural area, all signs indicate the fact that development, including residential uses to the south and east are beginning to, and will continue to, surround the raceway. As such, this land use will become increasingly incompatible. Staff believes that review for the purpose of determining continued land use compatibility is appropriate in three years. In summary, staff recommends approval of the attached resolution and conditions to regulate the future operation of the raceway. Staff has studied the issue carefully, read literally hundreds of letters, spoken with scores of residents, discussed the issue with noise experts, and personally inspected the site. Land use and noise data from San Marcos, the County, and Carlsbad was analyzed. Rased on this information, staff believes that the Raceway, subject to these conditions, can co-exist in harmony with the land uses that presently exist, and those that will develop in the next few years. 111. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The Land Use Planning Manager has determined that this project will not have a significant impact upon the environment, and, therefore, issued a Negative Declaration on June 16, 1983. ATTACHMENTS 1) Planning Commission Resolution No. 2151 2) Location Map 3) Memo to Planning Commission, dated February 23, 1983 4) Environmental Documents PJK:bw 7/1/83 -3-