Questions & Answers

Questions submitted to Mr. Brady (consultant to proponent, Bayt Al Mal Investments) by Anne-Marie Noyes at regional council meeting on November 25, 2009. (Answers in blue)

1. What are the names of the developers, investors and the owners of the proposed speedway and where do they live?
The application was made by 1746391 Ontario Inc. (Azhar Mohammad).

2. Regarding economic stimulus: what local economic benefits are anticipated and how was this determined? How many “dollars” are expected to stay in Fort Erie?
The consultant made a presentation, which indicated that the following would benefit the municipality: Economic Impact up to 20 million per event on average.
In describing this project he refers to it as a light industrial, with employment innovation cluster (the cluster refers to the McMaster component)

3. The satellite campus: how many students and staff are anticipated?
Unknown
Mr. Brady in response to the question regarding McMaster stated the following:
The building will be 100,000 square feet and cost $30 million. The students will be graduate students working on their thesis and PhD’s, in research and development. It will be a research and development campus for McMaster University.

4. How many jobs both full time and part time will the speedway employ? Is it possible to break down the hourly/yearly income of those working for the speedway: i.e. 100 jobs at $50,000 per year income?
The consultant made a presentation which indicated that the following would benefit the municipality: Full Time Employment=100 jobs and Part Time =2500 jobs, Construction Jobs 1000 man-years.
In regards to jobs Mr. Brady stated the following: the university will employ around 200, and that the speed way will employ on full time basis 80-100, the income is from $30,000 to over $200,000.

5. Development charges, if charged, would come to what amount? I understand this project will be exempt from development charges, as would any similar proposal.
The commercial rate would be charged for all commercial buildings on the track site. The structures such as a grandstand pavilion, outdoor amphitheatre or similar type of structures would not be charged as a Town development charge. Any industrial uses would be charged at the industrial rate. Any institutional use would not be charged development charges.
In regards to taxation, Mr. Brady although uncertain anticipates that 6 million dollars annual taxes. Not sure if this is the total tax i.e., provincial, regional and town.

6. Noise study on page 19, of the noise study can you please provide further explanation?
Page 19 of the noise study is a locational map showing the subject area.
According to Mr. Brady, that with the noise mitigation (they have revised and added new mitigation to the original plan), the noise levels will meet or exceed the provincial standards. The province has not yet come to a determination.
In regards to my question regarding if they will require a relief from the noise bylaw, he indicated this is a possibility but he was unaware of the restrictions that our noise bylaw contains. He may be referring to the time that noise is allowed.

7. If the noise bylaw is not complied with what are the fines and who will be ensuring the bylaws are obeyed?
A copy of the noise by-law is available in the Clerks Department.

8. What can we anticipate in regards to traffic? Are their traffic back ups anticipated?
The following excerpt is from the Traffic Impact Study “the recommended infrastructure and traffic control improvements can effectively mitigate the traffic impacts arising from a major/feature race event at the proposed development. Theses physical improvements will need to be supplemented with a special events traffic management plan to manage peak inbound and outbound traffic flows. The goal is to ensure the facility can discharge within three hours following the completion of a major/feature race event.”

9. What are the plans for waste management, what landfill will be receiving the waste?
Waste will be handled through a private commercial waste contractor.
Mr. Brady response to waste management stated the following: that their will be a holding tank on site and sewage will be a controlled released: This will therefore not overburden the sewage capacity for the sewage treatment plant.
In regards to garbage that is generated: he commented as follows: a private waste management firm will be in charge of picking up and disposing of the garbage, the carrier and where the garbage will ultimately goes needs to be decided through a bidding process. .

10. What will be the hours of operation on a race day, how many large races are we anticipating over the year.
The hours of operation indicated in the noise study are 9:00 am to 6pm for usual events with night races happening on a limited number of yearly events. Please note hours of operation are not land use related and are normally not regulated through zoning. The applicants have used scenarios such as 8 events per year, driver training days, etc for the noise study however the operation of the track again is normally not regulated through zoning.

11. Understanding that the speedway will be used for more than racing how many days is it anticipated that the “noise” level from these activities will be heard by the nearby residents?
This information has been detailed in the Noise Study prepared by SS Wilson.

12. Can the hours of operation be controlled; can the number of races per year be controlled?
The hours of operation are not normally regulated through zoning.

13. What is the anticipated revenue that will go towards the town in regards to taxes, fees, permits, is their a business plan?
We have no estimates for anticipated revenue.
Mr. Brady anticipated around 20 million per year from a variety of sources.

Other comments to questions I asked are as follows:

14.What about real estate values:
Mr. Brady’s response that it is not clear but he anticipates that the value of properties may increase, mentioning people working at the race track will need a place to live. In discussing this issue with planner Rino Mostacci he has not had any calls from the developers that are planning on the Spears High Pointe and Alliston Woods development. I have asked him to call these developers to get their opinion, for they are planning on building 100’s of homes very close to the speedway.

In regards to Municipal Affairs, and what are their thoughts on the speedway: Mr. Brady commented as follows: Mr. Victor Doyle (his contact at municipal affairs) expressed an opinion that he feels is “supportive” of the development.

We are trying to get accurate answers to the questions most frequently asked of CARS,
so we have put these questions to the proponent and the Town.

So far, we have NOT received any answers.

To: info@cdnmotorspeedway.com
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 4:35 PM
Subject: jobs

Could you please comment on the numbers of jobs, job descriptions, wage levels, benefit packages and hiring date for all employment opportunities including full, part, seasonal, skilled(types of skills), administrative and research and development that you plan to offer to Fort Erie residents.

Thank you in advance,

Mayor Martin
Municipal Corporation of the Town of Fort Erie
1 Municipal Centre Drive
Fort Erie, ON
L2A 2S6

2009-11-09

Re: By-law 98-09

Dear Mr. Mayor,

In reviewing by-law 98-09, I noticed an exemption for development charges related to “tourist attraction/recreational facility”. For your reference page ten, 3.7 sub section (f).

Does the proposed speedway qualify for this exemption and to what extent? If it does qualify, what is the approximate dollar value to the Town for this exemption?

Again if the proposed speedway qualifies, was this exemption offered a couple years ago to the speedway planners and proponents, to entice them to locate in Fort Erie?

Thank you in advance,

Sandy Vant
Chairperson
CARS

Ecc: H.Schlange, R. Mostacci, K. Dolch, C.Kett, Council Members

On Sun, Nov 1, 2009 at 5:55 PM, Ann-Marie Noyes <ANoyes@town.forterie.on.ca> wrote:

I am copying you the questions that I will be asking Kira to provide information.

What are the names of the developers, investors and the owners of the proposed speedway and where do they live?
Regarding economic stimulus: what local economic benefits are anticipated and how was this determined? How many “dollars” are expected to stay in Fort Erie?
The satellite campus: how many students and staff are anticipated?
How many jobs both full time and part time will the speedway employ? Is it possible to break down the hourly/yearly income of those working for the speedway: i.e. 100 jobs at $50,000 per year income?
Development charges, if charged, would come to what amount? I understand this project will be exempt from development charges as would any similar proposal.
Noise study on page 19, of the noise study can you please provide further explanation?
If the noise bylaw is not complied with what are the fines and who will be ensuring the bylaws are obeyed?
What can we anticipate in regards to traffic? Are their traffic back ups anticipated?
What are the plans for waste management, what land fill will be receiving the waste?
What will be the hours of operation on a race day, how many large races are we anticipating over the year.
Understanding that the speedway will be used for more than racing how many days is it anticipated that the “noise” level from these activities will be heard by the nearby residents?
Can the hours of operation be controlled; can the number of races per year be controlled?
What is the anticipated revenue that will go towards the town in regards to taxes, fees, permits, is their a business plan?

All the best
Ann-Marie Noyes

CARS asks Springs Stadium Resident Association about
Springs Speedway in Aukland, Australia

How long have has your citizen's group been together?
About 12 years.

In terms of property values of existing homes in the area what has been the impact of the speedway?
The speedway has been there for 75+ years, so it's hard to assess impact on valuations.

Do people generally want to live close to the speedway?
No, the presence of a speedway is ususally considered a negative for a neighbourhood.

Do your town officials step in when noise levels exceede the town limits? What are the repercutions on the speedway for excess noise?
The speedway in Auckland has some political support so the town official have been reluctant to enforce noise regulations. The repurcutions for execessive noise are some token fines, which are not really much of a deterent. More often than not, the town will claim that there was problems with the noise measurements and the true volume could not be assessed.

How do your residents make complaints? How is it dealt with?
We have a direct line to the noise officer to voice complaints during the events. Due to factors above, most people don't bother calling to complain.

How has the speedway impacted the community? Would your community fold if the speedway closed up?
In all reality, due to degradation of neighbourhood, and consideration of alternate uses for the site - speedway probably has a negative impact on the city.

Press Release (PDF)

Fate Of Springs Speedway In Judge's Hands

Fate Of Springs Speedway In Judge's Hands
Author : JULIET ROWAN-NZ Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz

The future of Auckland's speedway is in the hands of the court after negotiations between the speedway promoter and residents opposed to noise levels broke down yesterday............read more