Commissioners form committee to study ATV use

By: Sharon McBrayer | Morganton News Herald
Published: February 18, 2010

Morganton --

Commissioners have been trying to come up with a solution to address motorcross and other off-track race courses and now they want public input.
The Burke County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night agreed to form a committee to study the issue.
Commissioners are asking for eight members from the public to serve on the committee to study the use of off-highway vehicles on private property. County officials say they would like to have four people representing off-highway vehicles and four people representing owners with property adjacent to the courses.
Applications will be accepted until March 2, said Susan Berley, planning director for the county.
Applications can be picked up at the county manager's office or the planning department at 200 Avery Ave. in Morganton. An online application also is available on the Burke County Web site at www.burke.co.nc.us; click on the "forms" tab at the top of the page.
Commissioners expect to appoint the committee at their March 16 meeting.
The committee also will include a representative from the Burke County Sheriff's Office, a commissioner, staff from the planning department and two members of the county planning board, according to information from the county.
The committee will consider whether to amend the definition of a racetrack; whether any non-commercial off-highway vehicle use should be regulated by the zoning ordinance or should there be an ordinance just to address those vehicles, according to the information from the county.
The issue came up in the fall when the county proposed a zoning ordinance to regulate private tracks for motocross and ATV use. People from both sides of the debate spoke out during a meeting in November and commissioners delayed a decision to get input from stakeholders in the issue.
The county planning board wants to have a report from the committee in time for its May meeting, according to information from the county.
Questions about the committee or issue can be directed to the Burke County Planning Department at 439-4362.

Commissioners form committee to study ATV use

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