Last races at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographe
Scannell Properties, LLC’s presented its master plan for a warehouse and distribution space on the former Beech Ridge Motor Speedway site at 70 Holmes Road to the Scarborough Planning Board Dec.11. Scannell Properties, LLC is requesting master plan review of a 30,560-square-foot warehouse with a separate office space and a three-bay maintenance shop. The project also includes a vehicle circulation yard, fueling area and an axle scale.
Following the closure of Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, the property owner proposed a development plan in 2021 for the over 5-acre site. Due to zoning regulations, any development requires a three-step planned development process, including site inventory and analysis, a master plan, and site plan or subdivision approval. The Planning Board reviewed the project through two site inventory and analysis sessions in November 2021 and February 2022. After the 2022 review, the board approved the project to advance to the master plan phase. At the recent sketch plan review on Oct. 30, the board appeared comfortable using the 2021/2022 site inventory and analysis. Approval of the master plan would lead to a formal site plan review with the Planning Board.
Eric Sanderson, assistant town planner, underscored the master plan’s role in the redevelopment of the over five-acre site, citing the zoning ordinance’s requirement for a thorough plan development process. “Master plan proposal for the redevelopment of the former Beech Ridge motor speedway requires a site inventory and analysis as well as a master plan,” Sanderson said.
“The proposed master plan submitted for our proposed truck terminal remains largely unchanged from our initial sketch plan submission,” said Justin Olashuk, the representative for Scannell Properties. He highlighted an addition to the master plan, the identification of potential development areas, emphasizing zones beyond existing wetlands and vernal pools.
Olashuk said that the primary concerns of the Planning Board revolve around water supply, fire suppression, traffic mitigation, and breaking up the large parking area. He proposed measures such as existing vegetated buffers, sound and visual buffers, and a memorial at the intersection of Holmes Road and Two Rod Road.
70 Holmes Rd Scannell properties courtesy photo/ Scannell properties
Public comments reflected residents’ apprehensions regarding potential impacts on water supply. Warren Hamilton, a resident on Two Rod Road, voiced concerns about water scarcity, “I’m scared to death we’re going to run out of water. I used to be able to dig a hole outside my house and get water, not anymore. I have a dug well, and it’s low.” Others described worries about traffic and the need for infrastructure improvements.
Denise Hamilton, during her public comment on Zoom, raised concerns about potential odors, “Diesel fuel smells, hundreds of tractor trailers with diesel smell is going to cause an odor. Probably as much if not more than the marijuana smell next door to us. You need to start talking to the taxpayers and the neighbors. And, what’s in our best interest, not the best interest of the developers. This is affecting our water. This is affecting our safety.”
The board, cognizant of these concerns, expressed a need for further research on key issues before the submission of the application for a site review. Chair Rachel Hendrickson said, “In the hope of moving through this please, when you come to us, don’t send us an application until a lot of these issues have been researched.”
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