YOUR COMPLETE ADDRESS CURRENT DATE Snohomish County Planning and Development Services c/o Erik Olson for The Hearing Examiner 3000 Rockefeller Avenue M/S 604 Everett, WA 98201 File Number: 06-102142-LU Project Proposed by: MXGP INC. Address: 19001 Yew Way Mr. Olson, I would like to be made a party of record. Also, please retain this copy and add it to the file for the Hearing Examiner to review. Thank you, YOUR FULL NAME To whom it may concern: THIS LETTER IS IN DIRECT OPPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED MOTOCROSS RACETRACK PROPOSAL. I am a resident of Maltby. Before I get into how this racetrack does not meet Snohomish County’s own criteria for a Conditional Use Permit, let me share a bit of my Maltby World with you. I live on a piece of property that is very close to the Rinker Gravel Pit. There is only one piece of property between my property and the Pit. I am toward the Southwest corner of the Pit. My land is very secluded, quiet and beautiful. On the Northwest corner of my property I have 3 natural springs. At any given moment, I can step out my front door and hear the babbling brook flow. This is the beginning of Evan’s Creek, which flows east to Fales Road, and eventually into the Snohomish River, which is filled with many different fish. We have owned this land for seven years. In my daily life, my family and I have seen Bobcats, Coyotes, Deer, Hawks, Bunnies, Squirrels, Raccoons and many different types of birds on our property. This is what I moved out to Maltby for. Serene country life at it’s best. After reading the information submitted for the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) I know there are many areas that are not compliant with the current living in Maltby. As a resident of Yew Way, I believe my information is extremely accurate. NOISE: I only hear noise from the Pit maybe once a month, in the summer, June, July and August. A truck’s rocks slamming down or the bed of the truck making a loud noise. That’s it. We have three small children, so we are outside all year around. If there was a ton of noise where I live, I wouldn’t be so satisfied living here. The information submitted by MXGP Inc. states their operation “would not be any louder than the current Gravel Pit operation.” I live here and that is A BOLD FACE LIE !!! A motocross track would be very loud!! The illegal track that MXGP Inc. had going was brought to the attention of officials BECAUSE IT WAS SO LOUD!!! I have personally spoken to three of the neighbors and each and every one of them told me “If this goes in, your life will never be the same.” “You will hate going home.” “The noise will drive you crazy!!!” “The garbage, litter and total disregard for anyone’s property that lives around the track is awful!” “This will be your worst nightmare, it was ours!!!” They were all sorry to hear Maltby had to deal with this. And frankly they were surprised that Snohomish County would entertain such an idea! Isn’t it funny that people I don’t even know, but know about racetracks in their backyard find this idea for a racetrack in Maltby criminal? I am sharing this information with you as proof that this proposed racetrack IS NOT IN PARITY WITH THE CURRENT COMMUNITY IN MALTBY!! 30.42C.100 In the Geomatrix Sound Study, submitted by MXGP to the county, they stated the sound of two motorcycles would be 91 DBA. The county’s criteria for allowable noise is 49 DBA, and up to 64 DBA for limited periods of time. Well, clearly, 91 DBA is extremely higher than Snohomish County’s own allowable noise criteria. A 747 airplane in takeoff is 98 DBA!! So let’s see, 2 motorcycles = 91 DBA, what would 300 motorcycles be? 300 riders is a very conservative estimate of attendance at the illegal racetrack from 2005 in one day, reported from MXGP Inc. themselves! This is not a quiet business. This is a very loud sport. I have nothing against motorcycle riders. I rode myself growing up. But, if you want to damage your hearing, that’s your business, don’t impose it on me and my family where we live. This racetrack needs to be further out in an isolated area. If it was too noisy for a few farmers in Monroe, why would Snohomish County think it would work in the middle of a neighborhood like Maltby? Please see attached report from www.lhh.org/noise/decibel.htm , where they speak of a person’s hearing being damaged at 85 DBA in a maximum of eight hours. Can you imagine? If this racetrack were to go in we would be exposed to that in ONE DAY !! If there are louder motorcycles (we’ve been told by bikers themselves, they take off their tailpipes to give the bike more power, but it also makes it louder) say 110 DBA, the damage occurs in one minute and 29 seconds!!!! I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS GIVES US “FREEDOM FROM NUISANCE GENERATING FEATURES IN MATTERS OF NOISE… AND VIBRATIONS”, WHICH IS A DIRECT QUOTE FROM SNOHOMISH COUNTY CODE, DECISION CRITERIA, 30.42C.100. The hours of operation? 7-9 am to 9-10 pm. You’ve got to be kidding! Again, I hear nothing, so obviously something at anytime is not going to be in “PARITY WITH THE CURRENT COMMUNITY IN MALTBY!” 30.42C.100 I read in the proposal the idea of a 25 foot berm around the tracks to block the noise of the motorcycles. The berm isn’t going to block anything. And we don’t want to be the guinea pigs for it to be tested on and then to say “Nope, it doesn’t work! Hmmm too bad.” First of all the noise will just go up and out to the surrounding homes and properties. Only a totally enclosed indoor arena that is sound proof would take care of the noise. And let’s not forget, the motorcycles don’t STAY UNDER THE HEIGHT OF THE BERM! The motorcycle riders go up a jump, say 5-10 feet, the jump may be a 15 foot high jump, now you’re 20-25 feet up in the air, and well of course once the rider goes off the jump he goes flying in the air even higher!!! The higher, the better for the rider! Great! Then what do we have? A motorcycle at full throttle, in the air ABOVE THE BERM! Guess what? Sound travels fast. Great! Right into my property and home. My family and I won’t be able to enjoy my property as I do now, “MATERIALLY DETRIMENTAL TO USES OR PROPERTY IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY” 30.42.100 In speaking with current motocross riders, I’ve been told they ride up and down side roads outside of the track area to test their bikes and the handling etc. Has anyone thought about those noise and traffic issues? That definitely will bring the high 91 DBA directly to my door and I don’t know how many do that, for how long or how often, I’ve been told by more than one rider, they all do it when it’s not their turn to ride on the track. The families and farms with their animals don’t need this stress out here. Motorcycles racing around our county roads “testing” things are not our idea of “PARITY WITH THE CURRENT COMMUNITY”. This is just a huge hazard! Not only to my ears, eyes and nose but to the traffic situation here. This would definitely be “MATERIALLY DETRIMENTAL TO USES OR PROPERTY IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY” 30.42 .100 In addition to the motorcycles, there wasn’t anything in the supporting documents that addressed the noise from the traffic coming in and out of the racetrack, the loud music, screaming fans, loud speakers or PA system announcing the races etc. This is a sport with several requirements, one of which is communicating with the riders and spectators so they know what’s going on. It cannot be proven this can happen in such silence we won’t be hearing that day and night right along with the motorcycles! A 25 foot berm will not handle all the noise that an endeavor like this creates from beginning to end. A berm has never been proven to eliminate this magnitude of noise! Why would anyone want to put it to the test in a neighborhood? Someone’s not thinking too deep here. Again, not compliant with Snohomish County’s Criteria for approval of a CUP. TRAFFIC The study that was done did not accurately reflect the magnitude of what a racetrack in this area would be like. Issues that were inaccurate were the days, weekdays vs weekends, mid-day and mid-week does not represent what it would be like. Currently, during peak hours (morning, afternoon and evening) it may take 13 minutes to travel one-half mile on Yew Way. I know because I drive it three times a day. No, I’m not kidding! 13 minutes as is. The construction on Fales will not impact this at all. Can you imagine adding more traffic to that? After 3 pm traffic backs up almost into Woodinville because of the congestion in this area and going out to Monroe. Again, adding more traffic to this does not give me “FREEDOM FROM NUISANCE GENERATING FEATURES IN MATTERS OF NOISE, ODORS, AIR POLLUTION, WASTES, VIBRATION, TRAFFIC, PHYSICAL HAZARDS AND SIMILAR MATTERS.’ 30.42C.100 In several articles in The Herald the illegal track in Monroe has been quoted as having events as large as 368 riders and 5000 spectators. All these people are going to come in to this proposed track on roads that are one lane each way, no sidewalks, no shoulders. Once they get to the track, where are they going to park? The track proposal has approximately +/- 100 spots. Let’s see, that leaves the already busy roads, our driveways or property and the ditches! Hmm, really? Yes. I am so close, I’m sure my driveway will be a prime target for extra parking. How am I going to use my own driveway if I’m constantly being intruded upon by the motocross riders? How am I going to find them to ask them to move? It would be like finding a needle in a haystack! This project would definitely be ‘MATERIALLY DETRIMENTAL TO USING MY PROPERTY’ 30.42C.100 LANDSCAPE MODIFICATIONS I am aware this is an enormous project. My understanding of what is currently there and what is proposed is sketchy at best. I would appreciate Mr. Hearing Examiner, if you would apply your expertise in this manner as heavy handed as possible. I know Rinker Gravel Pit is not compliant with their current permit from Snohomish County. My understanding is they are 100 feet over grade of where they should be. How does this effect the racetrack is my question to you. . I also have been looking at reports from Snohomish County Health District that prove there is massive lead, arsenic, cadmium and chromium contamination on the Rinker property, possibly buried under all the excess material that should not be there. How can we think about putting something there, not knowing exactly what is already there? We cannot just assume nothing suspicious is there. After speaking with legal counsel, I believe an Environmental Impact Statement of the entire property is an absolute must. Every home surrounding the 58 acre site is on a well. We must know what we’re dealing with and I appeal to you to order an Environmental Impact Statement. OTHER QUESTIONALBLE ISSUES; I have several other challenges with the proposed CUP: I have proof of wildlife in and around the Gravel Pit, including Bald Eagles. This noise and all the disruptions that go along with the track would ruin the current natural homes of many animals. THIS IS DETRIMENTAL TO MY PROPERTY. Who is paying for the extra police and medical support that will be required? I was told at the illegal racetrack in Monroe, someone was airlifted out due to injury EVERY WEEKEND! Who gets to pick up that tab? Traffic police on the streets, police inside the venue? And what about the folks that will be staying overnight in the designated RV spots? Will MXGP Inc. be providing security 7 days a week, 24 hours a day? Or will the partying overnighters just be left to their own judgment of what is appropriate in a residential neighborhood? THIS IS DETRIMENTAL TO MY FREEDOM OF ENJOYMENT OF MY OWN PROPERTY 7 DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY! MXGP Inc. states it is likely riders will spill oil and gas on the ground. That is an understatement! We cannot have oil and gas spilled on the ground, which will go to the retention ponds (MXGP Inc. information on permit application) on the property, the retention ponds flow directly into Evan’s Creek, which flows directly into the Snohomish River!!! Yikes! We have worked to keep Evan’s Creek from being contaminated, and do not want a huge cash cow development idea to come along and everything else goes out the window? THIS WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO MY PROPERTY AND ALL THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. IT ALSO WOULD BE A NUISANCE GENERATING FEATURE IN MATTERS OF ODORS, AIR POLLUTION AND WASTE. What about the pollution from the exhaust of motorcycles? Especially when the riders take off the exhaust pipes that are there to filter exhaust? MOTORCYCLES OF ANY NUMBER OR KIND DO NOT GIVE ME FREEDOM FROM ODORS AND AIR POLLUTION. I have serious concerns about the night lighting of the facility as well. I would imagine for a 58 acre facility that would have people there for extended periods of time, they will need significant amounts of light. Similar to that of a baseball field, but multiply that by 10! Until 10 pm every night as the proposal states. These types of facilities belong far out away from neighboring communities. The lights literally can be seen for miles! Can you imagine? I have 3 small children. They go to bed at 7:30 pm. These lights would shine directly into their bedroom windows and keep them awake for hours! The stress of night after night, not getting enough sleep! Currently, when the sun goes down, it’s dark here. This proposal is not compatible with specific features, conditions (dark at night) or revisions that ensure it responds appropriately to the existing or intended character, appearance, quality of development, and physical characteristics of the site and surrounding property (all of the surrounding property is dark when the sun goes down, 365 days a year.). The proposal includes the clear-cutting of many trees. We work hard to preserve the natural beauty of the area. The trees, brush, grass, that is what gives the area the peace and privacy we all moved here to enjoy. The proposal is not compatible the intended character, appearance, quality or physical characteristics of the surrounding property. On a sidebar, last but certainly not least; we are all tax paying, voting, active citizens in our community of Maltby and Clearview. Our community is growing leaps and bounds in residential homes. The reason for the growth is because this is a desirable area to reside. The proposal for this racetrack has already begun to erode our property values – purchase agreements have been rescinded!!! We have come together as a community to oppose this project and we will use every avenue available to us to make sure this does not go in. In summary, if you compare my opening paragraph where I spoke about the current quality of life in Maltby, against the issues brought up in the rest of my letter, I’m sure that you will agree they are in stark contrast. No one wants to live or be in business in a situation of clear disparity, as this racetrack is. Mr. Hearing Examiner, on a closing note, if I as a layperson knowing little about County Code, development guidelines, legalities etc. can have so many large challenges with this proposal, I can’t wait to hear all of your challenges. Thank you for your concerted effort to review this case and make the right decision. Respectfully, YOUR NAME Mr. Strode, If you truly want to be a business man with integrity and a “good neighbor”, I challenge you to find a location for your racetrack where you are wanted. Then you will be a good neighbor. It is impossible to be a good neighbor, when the neighbors don’t want you.