Residents in Plymouth, Massachusetts will have a chance to express their opinion regarding a proposed $500 million racetrack through a non-binding ballot question at the May 21 town election.
The town’s select board approved the question at its April 12 meeting; it asks whether residents would support a development project on 100 acres of county-owned land that would include thoroughbred horseracing.
Plymouth County commissioners issued a request for proposals for the land in January. Boston South Real Estate and Development LLC presented a plan to build a horseracing track there. The select board of the town of Plymouth has little to no control over the project at this point; it will have more say about it if the proposal becomes a full-fledged plan requiring local permits and approvals.
Select board Chairman Dick Quintal said, “None of us approved or has shown support for a racetrack in the community. This isn’t our debate. The proposal is not our proposal, and there’s been a lot of confusion about whose proposal this is.”
But Select board member Patrick Flaherty noted, “A nonbinding ballot question would give us a temperature check of where we are at this moment. It will cost the town zero dollars to share their voice on this development concept, which they said will always consist of thoroughbred racing.”
Besides the ballot question, residents of Plymouth and Plymouth County can express their concerns at a community forum hosted by Boston South on April 26. A meeting notice said, “The sole objective of this first public forum is to gather valuable input from Plymouth and Plymouth County, whose assets we have been charged to evaluate at our own risk and expense. In the coming three or more years, we at Boston South believe this extensive due diligence and evaluation process will result in a positive outcome for all.”
The county commission also will hold a public hearing on May 9. At the March 31 county commissioners’ meeting, about two dozen angry Plymouth County residents were blocked from speaking out against the proposed racetrack.
The current agreement provides Boston South with a 3-year period of due diligence to review the site, develop plans and address mitigation concerns. During that time, the county will receive a total of $450,000 in annual lease payments. Beyond that period, lease payments would be renegotiated. The lease won’t be signed until the end of June; then Boston South will have three months to conduct a title search and implement environmental reviews, at a cost estimate of $4 million to $6 million.
Two areas of concern are whether a Verizon cell tower on the site would have to moved, plus the feasibility of underground power lines.
