news updates from palmer motorsports park

Group seeks to build motorsports park in Palmer

3/8/06 PALMER, MA – NER Investments LLC, a group formed by Sports Car Club of America’s New England Region, announced today it has signed a purchase and sale agreement for a 658-acre parcel of land, with the majority (about 496 acres) located in Palmer and the rest in Ware. While the parcel straddles the two towns, all proposed development would occur in Palmer; access would be from West Ware Road in that town.

The group’s goal is to develop and operate a multi-purpose facility for automobile competition; testing; product development; and advanced driver training for law-enforcement officers, teens, and others.

As a first step toward that goal, NER Investments LLC today applied to the Palmer Planning Board for a special permit and site plan review in order to construct and operate a Commercial Outdoor Recreation facility in a Rural Residence zone, as allowed under Palmer’s zoning laws.

Minimal impact, significant tax revenue

The centerpiece of the proposed facility would be a paved “road course,” featuring both left- and right-hand turns and closely following the existing terrain. This course would form a loop approximately 2 miles in length and 40 feet in width.

The auto races held on the track would be competitions run by clubs for amateur sports-car enthusiasts. Paying spectators are not allowed at these events; this is an important distinction between club racing and professional race series like NASCAR. “In club racing there are no traffic jams, no RV convoys,” said Project Director Dick Patullo.  “On a big weekend, we might see 200 competitors and a total of 1,000 people.” That number would include drivers, their support crew, and volunteers who help run the event. Patullo added that most events would be even smaller, with only a few dozen participants.

In addition to the road course, the facility would include parking, a handful of support buildings including a snack shop and restrooms, and a paved area approximately 500 by 1,000 feet for driver training, product demonstrations, and low-speed time-trial events called “autocrosses.” As proposed, less than 4% of the 658-acre site would be paved, and only 15% would be developed, with the remainder untouched.

Anticipated property tax income to Palmer would exceed $50,000 annually (based on the local tax rate of $13.95 per thousand), and NER Investments LLC pointed out the proposal would preserve open space and prevent residential construction. The facility would prove to be a minimal drain on Palmer services because it would provide its own water, septic, medical, and accident-response resources. 

For more information and answers to common questions about NER’s proposal, see the Frequently Asked Questions.

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