Listen up: Town to hold Dec. 20 sound test

The sound test designed to demonstrate how loud autocross and drift racing would be in the Town of Fredonia is slated for Saturday, Dec. 20.

The Town Plan Commission requested the test after multiple neighbors spoke against a plan by Jay Bullington to construct a parking lot for grassroots motorsports on 72 acres at the southeast corner of Highway 57 and Jay Road.

Bullington, owner of the automatic drivetrain upgrade company JXB Performance in Saukville, is seeking a conditional use permit for a 17,000-square-foot headquarters for his business, a venue space for motorsports activities, pavilion-like covered area, observation balcony and restaurant, along with accessory uses.

An 18-acre paved parking lot would be used for autocross and driver education. A six-acre track would be designed for drifting, sliding a car around while still controlling it.

Area residents oppose the plan due to the noise and are concerned about water runoff and increased traffic on Jay Road. Some said Bullington should have come to the neighbors with his plan before going to the town. They voiced their objections at the Dec. 3 Plan Commission meeting.

Among those who would be most affected by the development is Andrea Ward, who owns an equestrian boarding facility across the street from the proposed site.

Ward said the noise would bother the horses to the point her clients’ safety would be at risk. Vehicle noise from Highway 57 already bothers them, she said.

“We get what he wants to do, and I appreciate his dream, but he’s going to ruin other people’s dreams,” Ward told Ozaukee Press.

Bullington said he plans to add berms to help reduce the noise, and said sound from his facility won’t be the same as a racetrack.

Autocross isn’t done on an oval racetrack with traditional race cars. Drivers navigate courses marked by cones as fast as they can, competing one at a time. Speeds reach about 60 mph, and courses can change in design.

“If you live nearby, you may hear it from time to time, but I promise it will never be loud,” Bullington said at the Plan Commission meeting.

Bullington has proposed drifting hours to be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays. For autocross, it’s 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

Concerns over water runoff were also discussed at the Plan Commission meeting. Bullington had SEH of Germantown, an engineering, architectural, environmental and planning company, help create a site plan that includes a retention pond.

Area residents are also worried about increased traffic, especially on Jay Road. Ward said her driveway is somewhat hidden and would be directly across from the driveway to the proposed site. Weekend events drawing hundreds of people to the site would create a safety issue of getting in and out of her driveway, she said.

Others voiced support for Bullington’s plan.

Ozaukee County Economic Development Director Kathleen Cady Schilling likes the boost in tourism it would provide, and Mike Pride, chairman of autocross for the Milwaukee region of the Sports Car Club of America, said the driving skills learned in autocross and drifting helped his street driving.

“I think that’s something that would be admirable to have in the area to keep trouble off the roads and build a better community of safe drivers,” he said.

The sound test will start at noon and be repeated at 2:30 p.m. with large speakers at the proposed site.

“JXB will play soundtracks recorded onsite at drift and autocross events at actual volume. It is recommended that you be in the general area for at least one of these demonstrations to understand the magnitude and frequency of vehicle noises to be expected from events,” according to instructions from JXB.

After the first demonstration, JXB will lead a guided tour of what it calls “various critical observation points within a two-mile radius” starting at Cedar Valley Cheese at 12:30 p.m.

A condensed soundtrack will be played at each stop, which is expected to last five to 10 minutes. 

A review of the test will be given at the Plan Commission meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7.

Residents can provide input on the proposal by emailing Town Clerk Christophe Jenkins at townoffice@fredoniawi.gov.