More information about a proposed campground at Saratoga Speedway will be available at a public hearing in mid-July.
The hearing will be held on July 19 at Miracle Beach Elementary School at 6 p.m. The application to the Comox Valley Regional District would see five lots rezoned between the Island Highway and Macaulay Road, including where the racetrack is located.
That would allow for development of a recreational vehicle park, a campground, commercial uses and further outdoor recreation uses over 21 hectares of land.
The proposed campground has been in the works since 2021, with plans for the track to develop 167 campsites initially.
According to the district, in 2022 they received around 300 responses from the public about the proposal, with some in support, some not in support and some providing observations but not being either for or against it.
However, in April last year, Saratoga Speedway withdrew their application, and a scheduled public hearing was cancelled afterwards. The racetrack said that the process had become “too toxic” on their community and friends and family.
The district board, however, did not rescind the bylaw readings and the public hearing plans can now resume with an application brought forward at the end of May. However, the number of proposed campsites has dropped from 167 to 137, according to the CVRD.
The district is encouraging public feedback on the application, which can be done by calling Planning and Development Services at 250-334-6000 or by completing its online contact form.
