CMI Gets Final Permit!

TAMWORTH - The last federal permit needed by a private race track has been granted, paving the way for developers to get the project going.

The U,S. Army Corps of Engineers granted the permit earlier this week to Club Motorsports Inc., which is developing Valley Motorsports Park off Route 25 near the Ossipee town line, after spending the past 18 months reviewing the application.

"Without question this is amajor step forward for our project," said CMI president and CEO Lloyd Dahmen.

CMI proposed its $28 million park, which will feature a threemile, 18-turn European-style driving course, clubhouse, pool, tennis courts and function rooms, about three years ago. Valley Motorsports offers memberships, much like a golf course country club.

"This is the last state and federal permits needed," said CMI spokesman Scott Tranchemontagne. "What will happen now is that we'll be sitting down with our legal and engineering team to consider where we can start."

There is pending litigation. A citizens' group, Focus: Tamworth, has filed suit in Rockingham County Superior Court seeking a declaratory judgment that CMI obtain a special use permit under Tamworth's wetlands ordinance before construction can begin. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 19.  Focus: Tamworth spokesman Kate Vachon said the group's legal team has not reviewed the permit. "Of course, this doesn't change our contention that CMI is subject to the Tamworth wetlands ordinance and must submit an application for a special use permit," she said,

Dahmen said CMI has spent more than 6,000 hours in developing a project that is sensitive to the environment. "In many instances, the technology and techniques we will use to protect the environment go above what is required," he said.

He noted that, according to the permit, the Army Corps agreed that Valley Motorsports Park's construction and operation will not damage water bodies, and that CMI has taken appropriate steps to minimize the effect on wetlands.  One of the conditions in the permit is that CMI place 107acres parcel in Sandwich into a conservation easement, which will protect it from development forever.

Within the next couple of weeks, Tranchemontagne said, CMI will make available to Tamworth residents its operating plan, which he says will answer any questions regarding "how we plan to operate," including hours of operation, use of lights and noise issues.