Town panel to consider autocross track study

The Town of Fredonia Plan Commission is expected to discuss an independent proposal to study stormwater, traffic and sound at the site of a proposed drifting and autocross track and facility on Wednesday, March 4.

Jay 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 for motorsports activities, pavilion-like covered area, observation balcony and restaurant, along with accessory uses. His proposed site is on 72 acres at the southeast corner of Highway 57 and Jay Road.

Neighbors have argued against the proposal, citing the impact of noise, water runoff and increased traffic to the area. Others have cited economic and tax benefits the facility would bring.

Bullington conducted a sound test on Dec. 20 in which he played a recording of autocross and drifting events through speakers at the site and recorded the noise levels at 10 different spots within a two-mile radius. Multiple residents, including Plan Commission members, determined the test was flawed since Bullington was in control of it. They suggested hiring an independent firm to do a test and have Bullington pay for it.

Town and Plan Commission Chairman Chris Janik said Westwood Professional Services, a company the town has worked with before, put proposals together “basically to do verification on the stormwater work and on the traffic work,” he said.

Bullington had hired SEH of Germantown, an engineering, architectural, environmental and planning company, to help create a site plan that includes a retention pond.

The sound test, Janik said, would be redone.

“They’re really starting over as far as putting together a sound impact study based on the use JXB plans,” Janik said.

Westwood, a national firm based in Plano, Texas, with offices in Appleton and Middleton in Wisconsin, would be involved in doing all three studies.

Since the work costs money, the Plan Commission can only recommend the Town Board approve it. The board, Janik said, could approve the project at its March 11 meeting.

The town would initially pay for the work, and JXB Holdings would reimburse it, Janik said.

The March 4 meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Fredonia Government Center.