Airport gets clearance for motocross, drag races

The City will allow motocross, snowmobile and drag races near Sault Ste. Marie Airport, but with some newly added conditions.

The controversial plan to allow noisy events, also including tractor pulls and concerts, will be allowed in the northeast corner of the airport property, not far from the New North Greenhouses.

City staff had pushed for a location closer to the airstrip (to see the two proposed locations, click here), but airport officials said that part of the property wouldn't work.

Just one event a month

Under a compromise approved by City Council, the airport will be allowed to hold no more than one noisy event a month, and a minimum buffer of 300 metres will be imposed between such activities and Airport Road.

In addition, the noise-generating activities must be set back at least 30 metres from the northern boundary of the airport lands, which adjoins the New North Greenhouses property.

'I've never seen a deer on a racetrack'

Neighbours were concerned about the impact of the added noise. "If you put a racetrack out there, the deer will disappear. I've never seen a deer on a racetrack," said Airport Road resident Mary Hannah.

Ward 4 Councillor Neil DelBianco remarked that when he's been near the airport on his snowmachine, he can't hear the engine for the sound of the jet aircraft overhead.

Jim Roney, secretary and treasurer of New North Greenhouses, said there are just five planes a day flying in and out of the Sault airport, and they're not a problem. "Fifteen seconds and they're gone," he told Council.

Roney said, however, that one racing event a month would be acceptable.

Nonprofit corporation

Now under local ownership of a local nonprofit corporation, the Sault airport is under pressure to develop other sources of revenue to ensure its long-term viability.

In addition to the noisy events, other possible uses contemplated by the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corp. include a fairground, craft shows, car shows, rodeos, horse shows, flea markets, storage and warehousing facilities, lodging and meeting rooms, and convenience retail or commercial uses.

Conditions of approval

In approving rezoning of the property on Monday night, City councillors approved these conditions:

- Any fairground, concert, craft show, flea market, car show or similar event must be set back at least 70 metres from Airport Road

- Motocross, snowmobile and drag-strip racing, tractor pulls, rodeos, horse shows and similar events must be set back at least 300 metres from Airport Road and at least 30 metres from north and west property lines

- Any motel, bed-and-breakfast operation, convenience store of less than 200 square metres, light industrial uses or accessory uses must be set back at least 25 metres from Airport Road

- No development will be allowed within provincially significant wetland areas. Any development within non-significant wetlands will be subject to an environmental impact statement.

- All motocross, snowmobile racing, drag-strip racing, concerts and similar events will require City Council approvals, which will be limited to no more than one event per month. Residents also requested that the area be properly fenced.

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