Protests drown out town race track proposal

The proposal to construct an autocross and drift racing track and accompanying facilities that has drawn huge crowds, largely voicing opposition, to Town of Fredonia meetings has hit a red flag, at least for now.

Jay Bullington, owner of JXB Performance of Saukville, withdrew his request to have a 72-acre parcel along Highway 57 and Jay Road rezoned in light of the Town of Fredonia Plan Commission’s decision on March 4 to deny hiring Westwood Professional Services to do a sound, traffic and stormwater study.

Bullington had agreed to reimburse the town for the work, saying in a letter that his company found Westwood’s “scope of services to be comprehensive and complete and that we will execute the reimbursement agreement.”

But when Westwood wasn’t hired, Bullington pulled the request to rezone the land from agricultural to a highway business district.

But, Bullington wrote, “we reserve the right to update the plans to possibly file a new application(s) in the future.”

Bullington had planned to seek a conditional use permit to build a 17,000-square-foot headquarters for his business, a venue for motorsports activities, pavilion-like covered area, observation balcony and restaurant along with accessory uses.

Concerns from residents came quickly after the initial proposal. Andrea Ward, co-owner of a horse boarding facility across Jay Road from the proposed site, 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.

Faith Stubing, who also lives on Jay Road, voiced concerns that she wouldn’t be able to have her autistic granddaughter visit because noise causes her distress and presented a letter from her husband’s physician saying the noise, dust, exhaust and increased traffic and activity would have a detrimental effect on his health since he is disabled.

“It’s not fair. You’re infringing on my civil rights,” Stubing said.

Others have voiced support for the proposal since last fall. Matt Dubinski, who lives on Highway I not far from the site, said the complex would give some drivers a place to race and keep them from driving recklessly on the road.

Ozaukee County Economic Development Director Kathleen Cady Schilling supported the plan given the increased tourism it would bring to the county.

Bullington, who has said the facility would generate some noise but not be loud, conducted a sound test on Dec. 20, but the Plan Commission didn’t find it credible and instead sought an independent third party to do the work, along with a traffic and stormwater study.

That’s what led the commission to Westwood, but concerns over rezoning the parcel took precedent, leading the commission to unanimously reject Westwood’s proposal.

The commission planned to discuss and possibly act on the zoning request in April, but because Bullington pulled his rezoning application, no discussion will take place, Town Clerk Christophe Jenkins said.