Cowlitz tribe wants to bring NASCAR to south county
Thursday, March 3, 2005 7:34 AM PST
By Sally Ousley
Printable version
E-mail this articleThe Cowlitz tribe is trying to bring NASCAR to Cowlitz County.
Tribal spokesman David Barnett said Wednesday that he made an offer to NASCAR officials on Tuesday to build a racetrack somewhere in the southern part of the county. He would not be specific about possible sites.
Any south county location would be near the tribe's proposed $400 million LaCenter area casino/resort.
Barnett said Wednesday that he, along with a team of land-use and legal experts and public relations officials, have met with Greg Lynch, project director and track manager for International Speedway Corp., a Daytona Beach, Fla., based company that is a sister company to NASCAR. The company has bought or built more than a dozen major racetracks and is searching Washington and Oregon for a track site.
"I wanted to show him the area, and then he come back to us with questions," Barnett said. "I would prefer a track would be located in Washington and in Cowlitz County, which could use the economic revenue from the project."
Barnett said he has not broached the subject with tribal officials, but he plans to discuss the opportunity with the tribal council on Saturday during a retreat.
"I will ask for their guidance then," said Barnett, son of Cowlitz tribal chairman John Barnett and the tribe's point man on the casino project. "I see this as an opportunity to benefit the tribe, the county, the state and NASCAR."
The racetrack proposal, if it goes forward, could raise a host of land use and other legal questions, including whether the tribe could bypass county planning regulations. Barnett said the tribe would not seek reservation status for the track.
At its casino site, the tribe is seeking federal "trust status" on 152 acres. Such status gives the tribe sovereignty over the land, which would not be subject to local regulations and taxes.
The tribe is a late entry for the NASCAR facility. A site near Marysville, Wash., was considered by race officials until it fell through in November due to several reasons, mainly rising cost estimates and traffic issues. Oregon sites in Scappoose and Troutdale also are being considered.
NASCAR says that whatever site is chosen needs to be at least 800 acres --- more than a square mile --- to accommodate the track, a 75,000-seat grandstand, retail shops and parking. At least 20,000 hotel rooms must be near the track, and the site must be within 30 to 50 miles from Portland or Seattle and near major highways.
Corey Balkin, vice president of the Cowlitz Economic Development Council, said a racetrack has significant economic benefits but also would require public investments.
"The question is (whether) we can afford to provide infrastructure to accommodate traffic flow," he said.
"Personally, I share the enthusiasm of hearing, 'Gentlemen, start your engines,' but it's a complicated issue."
Balkin said the CEDC worked with NASCAR officials twice before, but he wouldn't say what sites in the county were considered.
Balkin said he'd like to see what site Barnett is proposing. "If everything works out, there's no doubt it would be a boon for the area."
Barnett said he's not sure how he would finance the track. He ruled out a partnership with Connecticut's Mohegan Indian Tribe, which is helping the Cowlitz finance the LaCenter casino.
"If it can happen anywhere, why not here in Cowlitz County?" Barnett asked. "You can never tell. If it's meant to be, it'll be. I'm a believer that if you have a dream, you run with it."
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