Raceway Park gets license renewed despite concern Councilman wants to ensure racing events don’t catch residents off guard

Staff Writer

By sue m. morgan

Raceway Park gets license
renewed despite concern
Councilman wants to
ensure racing events don’t catch residents off guard

OLD BRIDGE — In spite of one official’s concern about the scheduling of "unmuffled racing," the Township Council has voted unanimously to renew the license for Raceway Park, a longtime township fixture, for its 2002 season.

Prior to the 7-0 vote at the council’s Dec. 11 meeting, Ward 5 Councilman Richard Greene referenced a letter dated Nov. 9 from Raceway Park, L.L.C., to the council, in which the company applied for its annual license renewal. The letter asked that the council’s renewal resolution include an addendum stating that its unmuffled racing events take place between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., with the exception of three special unmuffled racing events scheduled for June, July and August.

Greene pointed out that approving the license renewal with the addendum as written might inadvertently allow the park to schedule its special unmuffled racing events on nights other than Wednesday. In previous seasons, the park has held those events — which features races with cars that do not have mufflers — on selected Wednesday nights during the three summer months.

"Before I entertain the current ordinance, I want to know the dates of their special events," Greene said.

Though Raceway Park is advertised as being located in Englishtown, it is actually situated along Pension Road in Old Bridge near the border of Manalapan, Monmouth County. The park, as well as the nearby homes, are within Greene’s ward.

Greene said residents living near the park have become accustomed to the unmuffled races running beyond 10 p.m. on the three selected Wednesday nights. He expressed concern that, should the park alter its schedule without giving notice to its neighbors, the residents could be caught off-guard.

"I just want to make sure there is no confusion," Greene said.

Council President Dennis Maher tried to assure Greene that the license renewal would not change the scheduling of special events.

"We’re just renewing their license to operate without changing any times or restrictions," Maher said.

Councilman Edward Testino urged the council to try to accommodate any scheduling changes Raceway Park might request without having a negative impact on its neighbors’ quality of life.

"I’d like to see us be a little more business-friendly to one of the biggest taxpayers in town," Testino said.

Testino added that the park has been at the current site for approximately 30 years, while many of the homes in the area have only been there 15 years. He suggested that the council invite representatives of Raceway Park to address the council about their desired schedule changes.

"Let’s find out what we can do for them within reasonable limits," Testino said.

Greene said he just wants to know what Raceway Park’s scheduled events are in order to respond to his constituents.

"I want to make sure that the residents are aware of when they are going to have these events," Greene said.

During the public hearing, Old Bridge police Capt. Bill Cerra said Raceway Park’s management meets with his department’s administration prior to planning each season’s events.

"The administration sits down with them and we agree on the dates," Cerra said. "They come to us and say, ‘What’s good for you guys?’ "

Cerra said he expects to meet with Raceway Park officials next month.

The park is scheduled to open for its spring season on March 3.

Cerra pointed out that the police usually receive noise complaints from residents in neighboring Manalapan rather than Old Bridge.

"At 10:31 they call. The complaints never come from our town," said Cerra, referring to races that go past the park’s scheduled closing time of 10:30 p.m.

The license renewal resolution, which was passed with the addendum that Raceway Park had requested, also includes a second condition of approval that the park’s management periodically announce during events that patrons should not dispose of litter on area roads while leaving the park.

Management is also required to announce to patrons that they should exit the park and drive away in a quiet and orderly manner.