Neighbors to new drift racetrack bring concerns to VBT board

Six neighbors to the new drift racetrack that was put up in a residential zoning on Robson Road walked up to the microphone, one by one, at the Oct. 7 regular meeting of the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees and shared their concerns. It took up the first half-hour of the meeting.
Township Supervisor Kevin McNamara told them their comments were being broadcast live on You Tube and the township web site. He asked the board to rearrange the agenda, so public comments would be at the beginning of the meeting so those wishing to speak wouldn’t have to wait until the end of the meeting.
About ten more neighbors were in the audience to support the speakers.
The first speaker did not identify herself. She said this racetrack is located at 44336 Robson Rd. and is owned by Dustin McCallister. She said it is in close proximity to her home and she has numerous complaints, including flooding of nearby residential properties because of way he built up the track and poured the cement.
She said prior to Sept. 6, McCallister advised police about an event at his place. Then trucks were parked along the road and loud noises and crashing metal could be heard by the neighbors at their homes.
She said she has complained to the township about the racetrack and she said she was advised they have been told to stop by the township and by the police.
The second speaker said the track owner has YouTube and Twitter accounts and the racetrack owner tells how he’s going to “run this out.” The neighbor said the sounds are like hearing drag racing up and down Ecorse Road. The speaker said on YouTube McCallister said police told him if they get any complaints from the public, police will call McCallister.
Stephen Doemer, who said he lives nearby on Crowley, played a recording of the loud noises he hears from his deck.
“It’s intolerable, absolutely intolerable,” he said.
“I filed an official complaint with the police and 45 minutes later a truck came by and made a big rut in my yard, throwing gravel everywhere,” he said, which seemed to be retaliation. The rut is still there, he said.
He said several days later, something sounded like a 747 going low over his house.
“He’s started up again,” Doemer said.
Joyce Hagerman of Robson Road said the trucks “race to the race” and there are food trucks back there, too. She said he has created a business in their neighborhood. She said sometimes it sounds like a plane going low over their houses. She said he has drones that check on the neighbors.
Devon Petty of Robson Road said the loud noises affect the mental health of the neighbors. He said he is a combat veteran and the loud sounds engage his PTSD. He said he’s not against car racing, and “I’m a car guy,” but this isn’t the place for it.
A man who identified himself as Ken from Marlowe Ave. said he is a mechanic and he was running a line trimmer and he could hear the noise over the loud trimmer. He said when he called the police about the noise on Oct. 6, the department supervisor told him they have a permit to do that. He was the last of the neighbors to speak.
Supervisor McNamara asked Ron Akers, director of municipal services, to come to the microphone and explain how the township ordinances work.
Director Akers said when there is a violation of an ordinance, the township issues a notice of violation of the zoning code. He said the township has issued it on the racetrack and they will be talking with the owners that week.
The township can then prosecute them through Wayne County Circuit Court, citing noise issues, documenting the behaviors, and pursuing every available option.
“We can send them a letter and they can ignore it,” Akers said. “We have to get the court’s decision to make them stop.” He said they received no permit for the track.
A lady spoke from the audience saying that when constructing the track they brought in 38 yards of stone and now, “When it rains, I flood.” She asked if the state can be involved.
Akers replied that if the project impacted wetlands, the state is involved.
McNamara said years ago the board wrote ordinances that were kinder and gentler to township residents, who received warnings and time to correct violations. He said now to take it through to Circuit Court it takes time.
Neighbors said they would like to attend the court sessions and Akers said if they kept in touch with him he would let them know the dates.
McNamara said if the court tells the township it has the legal right, the township will slap a lien on the property and demolish the racetrack.