July 9, 2025 Volume XXIII, Issue V
Dear GHCA Members and Friends:
Go-Kart Hearing Continued
July 10 at 6:30PM
3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City
So far the Board has heard 12-hours of testimony over 2 days. To Begin the last session on June 26, the Board voted on the motion made by attorney Macy Nelson. He filed a motion for reconsideration that in essence argued that the hearing strayed from a purely legal issue of whether the BOA had “jurisdiction” to hear the case to wander into hearing from irrelevant witnesses and viewing exhibits while the opposition was prevented from presenting exhibits and making its legal case.
After very brief discussion the Board voted to deny the motion. However, the motion is on the record and subject to appeal at the Circuit Court level.
The proponents called their engineer, Rob Vogel who testified that the use would not have adverse effects more than those inherently generated by a paved go-kart track generally in the RR-DEO Zone. Under cross examination he admitted to an “insignificant error” showing a small area of the proposed track to be removed without showing where the replacement would be situated. Attorney Nelson pointed out to the Board that they were bound to decide the case based on Exhibit #1 already accepted into evidence. They also virtually called a Florida sound consultant who had conducted a test in Florida based upon a SINGLE LAP without any data regarding the speed or aggressiveness of the driver. At 105 ft., from the vehicle, the required maximum level of 65 decibels was less than 1 decibel under. The consultant admitted that at 100 ft. it would fail the test.
Most observers viewed the testimony as a whole to be unconvincing. The proponents have the burden of proof.
Adjacent residents testified to be disturbed by hearing loud noises generated by the sound of the tires cornering and maneuvering on the track on the one day it was used, September 10, 2024. They testified that their dogs barked almost continuously and the horses were visibly agitated and disturbed by the noises. A video was shown, but because the audio could not be directly inputted to the sound system, the noise could not be accurately heard. This might be remedied on July 10.
Dr. Tara Goldberg, a nearby resident with a doctorate in environmental science, presented expert technical information on the land, soil, the tracks effects on the environment and the wetlands. It was comprehensive, with charts and exhibits. She believes that there is significantly more to say on the questions concerning erosion, water quality, the wetlands that she could not cover because of objections by attorney Sang Oh. She will continue her testimony under cross examination at the start of the hearing on Thursday, and the opponents’ will continue to press their case.
Link to the County Video and notes: https://cc.howardcountymd.gov/board-cases/ba-24-022c-0
Link to a fair summary by Dennis Valera, WJZ:
WJZ June 29, 2025