City rejects Fun Center’s plan to add go-kart track
Residents, officials say noise, traffic would negatively affect neighborhood.
The owner of Englewood Fun Center sought permission from the city to construct an outdoor go-kart track on the business property, but the planning commission shot the idea down last week.
Documents submitted to the city showed that Barry Deam, owner of the Englewood Fun Center, 569 S. Main St., requested a conditional use permit to install a go-kart racing track on the west side of the property, farthest from Main Street.
According to his proposal, Deam said the track would be operational during warmer months, typically, but not strictly, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Hours of operation were planned for 11 a.m.-10 p.m. weekends and until 8 p.m. weekdays. The facility also has outdoor mini-golf and batting cages, games and an indoor bounce area.
In a report submitted to the planning commission, city Development Director Bill Singer stated staff did not recommend approval of the requested conditional use. Singer cited potential issues with the go-kart track, such as noise that could negatively affect the nearby residential district.
The track was proposed to loop back and forth in a narrow area behind the miniature golf course and the building that includes the Fun Center. The northwest edge of the track would circle near Shadowood and Villas of Englewood apartment buildings. The southeast edge of the track would be closest to homes near Eller Avenue and Northeast Circle.
City statutes limit noise within residential districts to 60 decibels during daytime hours and 55 decibels at night. Sixty decibels is about as loud as a conversation between two people sitting at a distance of 3 1/2 feet apart.
In his application, Deam said a noise buffer is provided by a line of trees between adjacent houses and the proposed track. He added that the distance from the houses to the track area — 81
feet away from the closest home — would be significant enough to provide further buffering.
Deam said the go-karts would use Honda GX 160 motors, which he said output 69 decibels at a 25-foot distance, per factory specifications. The decibels drop the farther the sound travels, Deam noted.
One letter of opposition was included in planning commission documents. Englewood residents Sheila and Nicholas Gavin, whose backyard is adjacent to the field just west of the Fun Center, said they’re concerned about noise pollution, lights and traffic.
“Families in our neighborhood have a vested interest in improving the aesthetics of our homes and yards,” the letter reads. “... The Go Kart track will disrupt and destroy the quality of the peaceful neighborhoods enjoyed by walkers, bicyclists, and dog walkers, and (will) be an eyesore to family neighborhoods.”
Englewood’s planning commission has final say for the city on conditional use requests. Any appeals go to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.