The fate of two small streams has delayed work on the track at the Canton motorsports park, but developers are moving ahead with plans to construct a bridge into the complex.

“Those streams have cost us more time than you could imagine,” said Charles Crawford, a Canton town alderman who is also the public relations spokesperson for the project.

Although earth moving equipment is still working at the site just off U.S. 19/23 each day, developer Steve Westmoreland has withdrawn permit applications from the state for stream mitigation. According to Crawford, a new permit application for the entire 500-acre site should be in the state’s hands within a few days.

The Division of Water Quality’s Mike Parker said once the permit is in, the state has 60 days to respond. The state’s input is used by the Army Corps of Engineers to help determine whether the project’s stream mitigation efforts are adequate.

According to Parker, developers want to pipe “several thousand” feet of two small streams. Westmoreland’s original permit application  for 65 acres — did not have enough acreage for mitigation, Parker said.

Parker and Crawford said mitigation efforts will likely include the purchase of an off-site area with a free-running stream to replace those waterways that will be altered during construction. Crawford said several sites are being considered.

Once the stream mitigation efforts are complete, Crawford said construction would speed on the 1.2-mile oval track and 1/8-mile drag strip. The track grandstand is expected to initially seat 10,000, Crawford said, and could be used for concerts and other events.

Excavation work is already underway in the area of the 225,000-square-foot expo center. Long-range plans include a campground, an equestrian center, a hotel and perhaps even condominiums at the site. Crawford said up to 200 full-time people could eventually work at the complex, with part-time jobs numbering up to 500. Canton is seeking grant money to pay to run water and sewer lines to the site, and it is likely the site will eventually be annexed by the town.

Crawford said past delays will keep him from estimating when the track might open.

“When it’s finished, it’s finished. We don’t want to set a date,” Crawford said.

Westmoreland told Haywood County commissioners two weeks ago that plans have been completed for the four-lane bridge over Hominy Creek leading into the development. Vaughn and Melton engineers of Asheville have submitted the plans for review. Crawford said it is hoped construction can begin this fall and finish by spring or summer 2002.

 

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