Facility gets green lights as plans speed ahead

Editor’s note: Charlie Douglas is the owner of Blue Crab Publishing LLC, which owns the Palatka Daily News.

A planned motorsports complex is revving up for the next steps in the procedural process after receiving the first pair of approvals from the Putnam County Board of Commissioners.

On Tuesday, the board unanimously approved a large-scale future land use map change that would allow a 443-acre motorsports complex to be developed on land just across from the Palatka Municipal Airport, 4015 Reid St. Commissioners also unanimously approved a zoning map amendment for the same property. 

The approvals occurred in the first of more hearings to come. The board will meet again at 9 a.m. Oct. 14 at the Putnam County Governmental Complex, 2509 Crill Ave., Suite 100, to vote on whether to approve the zoning map amendment again. 

Another future land use map change meeting must take place, but the board couldn’t confirm a date Tuesday because state officials, too, must review the land use change application. 

Putnam native Scott Lagasse Sr. and his son, Scott Lagasse Jr., both retired NASCAR drivers, are spearheading the motorsports complex project, which community leaders say will do nothing but benefit the county. 

Charlie Douglas, whose law firm is representing the Lagasse family in this project, told the board the complex will draw in motorsports trainees and tourists as well as help law enforcement. 

“It ensures that Putnam County remains on the map for all the right reasons,” he said about approving the project. “Commissioners, this morning you have an opportunity not just to approve a project but to launch a vision, one that brings jobs, growth, safety and pride to Putnam County.” 

The facility can also offer courses and training for drivers, even to Putnam County Sheriff’s Office deputies who want to train safely in new first responder vehicles, Sheriff Gator DeLoach said. 

“Having professional instructors and a purpose-built track here means our deputies can sharpen their pursuit and emergency driving skills without leaving the county, which directly has an impact (on) enhancing our public safety,” DeLoach said. “… With this facility and its construction, this would allow us to train more of our teams on a professional track, making our roads even safer for everyone involved.”

St. Johns River State College President Joe Pickens said he wants his school to partner with the Lagasee family to offer college automotive classes at the complex.

People can expect the facility to offer a four-star hotel and other lodging accommodations. Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Director Laura Pavlus said people who visit the county during events fill up all the local hotels, so another lodging space is just what the county needs. 

She called the complex a “once-in-a-lifetime project,” which will benefit Putnam’s economy for decades to come as people visit the complex. 

“They are going to pump money into this community when they come into town, money that our business owners are begging for,” Pavlus said. “They’re going to spend money in retailers. They’re going to spend money in restaurants. They’re going to spend money on entertainment. It’s going to drive incredible sales tax revenue for our community.” 

No one at Tuesday’s board meeting spoke against the project, but one person asked project managers to consider the sound the facility will generate. 

With the complex located near the airport and other industrial facilities, some people, such as Beck Automotive President and CEO Breck Sloan, thought the location was ideal. 

Douglas also backed the location, saying the Lagasses and other people working on the project have measured the sound. 

A car moving on a racetrack produces 125 decibels, which is less than an airplane, Douglas said. 

However, he said, once people move 6,300 yards away from the facility, the noise lowers to 49 decibels without buffers. The noise becomes lower with tree and vegetation buffers the Lagasse family intends to include, Douglas added.  

Sloan also said he believes the sound will be lowered by walls, berms and trees. He couldn’t imagine anything better, especially considering the Lagasse family having long roots in Putnam. 

“We have the right leadership and vision,” Sloan said. “We have the right place and, more importantly, we have it at the right time. … Gentlemen, it’s time to start your economic engines.”