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Pasco officials pledge 'appropriate action' on Chad Reed's motocross track

 
Published March 6, 2013

DADE CITY An international motocross racer whose backyard race track was under fire for annoying neighbors at all hours avoided the wrath of county commissioners on Tuesday by transferring the property to his children's trust.

Chad Reed, who lives in gated Lake Jovita but operates the track on land between Dade City and Zephyrhills, was set to have his conditional use permit possibly revoked by the county. But a clause said the permit privileges end when the land is sold or transferred. So his action left the county unable to do anything.

However, neighbors who attended the meeting said the racing is continuing despite the lack of a permit. "He's violating it this very minute," said Melissa Stall, who was on the phone with another neighbor who was near the property.

Carol Clarke, the county's chief deputy planning director, said code enforcement officials were looking into the matter. "Appropriate action will be taken," she said.

County attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder suggested that commissioners revisit the rules on race tracks in residential areas, though he said he thinks they are "pretty clear."

Commissioners been dealing with Reed since 2004 when he received approval for two indoor tracks on 4 acres, which allowed as many as three riders at one time. But in 2009 he began building a third course — dirt tracks and jumps meandering through 11 acres — without going back to the county. That's when he sought the conditional use permit, which commissioners granted in exchange for limiting the hours of operation.