By sue m. morgan
Staff Writer
OLD BRIDGE — Tired of hearing that Raceway Park was "there first," the mayor and a group residents of neighboring Manalapan Township are demanding that the dragstrip show more compassion for its neighbors.
Manalapan Mayor Drew Shapiro and several of his constituents converged upon the Old Bridge Township Planning Board meeting on June 10 to object to the 41-year-old dragstrip’s application to operate a new, multiuse road course at its Pension Road location.
Operation of the course would only exacerbate noise levels that the dragstrip’s current racing events already produce, the Manalapan residents contend.
No action was taken on the application, which was continued to a special board meeting Aug. 20.
Though physically located in Old Bridge, the dragstrip’s southern end touches the border with Manalapan. The residents who addressed the board said their homes are located in developments just over that border.
At the same meeting, Raceway Park owner Michael Napp tried to explain why he had constructed the multiuse course without obtaining preliminary and final site plan approval.
Mayor Barbara Cannon, who sits on the board, questioned Napp and his attorney, Kenneth Pape of Old Bridge, about the illegal construction of the course.
"I’m a bit disturbed that you went ahead and did improvements without obtaining permission," Cannon said.
Pape admitted that his client had erred in building the 12-turn track last year prior.
Raceway Park’s current application seeks both preliminary and final site plan approvals for the 1.3-mile course.
Construction on the multiuse track stopped in January and the course is not in use, Pape told Cannon.
Shapiro pointed out Napp’s mistake to back up his argument that Raceway Park does not respect the laws of its home municipality.
"The track is already built," Shapiro said. "Yet [Napp] is here before you because he built a track without coming to you for approval."
Overall, Manalapan residents living near the dragstrip are convinced that Raceway Park is not following previously issued court orders regarding sound levels and hours of operation, Shapiro said.
"They have not adhered to the court orders or to time issues," Shapiro said.
Raceway Park’s history in the township does not justify inconveniencing Manalapan residents, Shapiro said.
"As a mayor and a member of a governing body, we’re tired of hearing Old Bridge say [Raceway Park] was here first," Shapiro said.
Manalapan’s police force does not know how to handle the sound complaints because its officers are not trained to determine decibel levels, Shapiro said.
"The township has done everything in its power. We know [Raceway Park] is not going away," Shapiro said. "We just want them to adhere to the rules and be a good neighbor."
At its closest point, the multiuse track is 2,000 feet away from the Manalapan border, according to James Higgins, a planner who testified on Raceway Park’s behalf during the hearing.
Pape testified that the course would only be used for defensive-driving training programs, and by driving schools and automobile manufacturers seeking to demonstrate new vehicles.
He said the track would only be used by muffled, "street legal" vehicles and would allow speeds of up to 90 to 100 mph.
"It’s not for spectator sports. There will be no grandstand," Pape said.
Because the track is not for spectator events, no vehicular noise or traffic jams would be generated if it is allowed to operate, Napp has said.