Fourteen months after the owners of Saratoga Speedway in Black Creek withdrew a rezoning application that was not sitting well with some members of the community, a request for a new public hearing has been filed.
In 2022, track owners Rob and Lee Leighton had hoped to re-align some of the property boundaries and build 168 RV campsites.
Backlash from some community members became so volatile, the Leightons withdrew their application.
“Unfortunately the process has become too toxic on the community and our family at this time, so the public hearing has been cancelled and the file will be closed,” stated a Saratoga Facebook post at the time.
The application is active once again.
According to information received by the Record, the Comox Valley Regional District has directed staff to schedule a public hearing for a bylaw that would allow for the development of a campground and allow an existing lawfully non-conforming accessory auto racing use to occur as a principal use on several properties in the Saratoga Beach Settlement Node.
When the applicant withdrew the original application, the board did not rescind first and second readings. The owners have now requested the public hearing proceed.
As part of the request to proceed to public hearing, the applicant has submitted an updated site plan that reduces the number of campsites from 168 to 147. The sites would be built over three phases and two test wells have been drilled to meet all current water guidelines.
“At the Electoral Areas Service Committee June 5, the committee voted to proceed to public hearing on the rezoning application,” said CVRD Area C Director Edwin Grieve. “We will be holding a public hearing July 19 at the Miracle Beach Elementary School.
“I am hopeful that compromise can be achieved between the different members of the community and that we can strike a balance.”
Rob Leighton declined to comment.
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