After public comments, Fairview City Council votes 4-1 to end operation of neighborhood motocross track by December 2025

SALT LAKE CITY —  After months of contention, the Fairview City Council voted to halt the future of an inside-city-limits motocross track built next to homes that were there first.  Most of the homes have been standing for 10 to 40 years.

Tuesday night, the Fairview City Council voted four to one on a motion that will cease operation of the track by the end of 2025. This vote will allow public practice and one major event before the year ends.

Many neighbors voiced concerns on July 10 during a city council meeting. It was standing room only, with dozens more trying to hear the discussion from the hallway of the council chambers. On Tuesday, July 15, the room was filled to capacity again to hear the council’s vote.

Before the vote, Jim Cheney spoke to promote Fairview MX.

 

“This motocross debate has brought a circulation of lies, frustration, and hurt feelings,” Cheney said. “There are many who are excited about this; many who have kids who want to ride here. I don’t think it’s fair that the 12 or 13 people who live adjacent to the property get to decide what happens in this space.”

Many homes sit on the property line of this motocross track. The homes were built prior to the city’s choice to construct a motocross track. Many homes have been there for decades. In one Facebook video, Lachelle Cook said, “There’s an inch of dust on everything I own,” showing the dirt flying onto her cars and home from a video taken on her front porch.

 

Joseph Anderson is the liaison for concerned homeowners. Anderson took three minutes at the beginning of the meeting to address council members.

“We don’t feel like the council has listened. This isn’t criticism against motocross, but it has brought a contention level to our small town of Fairview that we haven’t experienced before,” Anderson said.

 

Records show that in 2023, residents signed petitions against the track. Due to the city’s Parks and Recreation department dissolving, there was no permit process for this motocross track, which sits in a low-impact area.

 

“The public process has not been honored,” Anderson said. “There were promises made that riding would not happen on Sundays. But the noise and the dust continued – even on Sundays. Some of the families who live next to this motocross location have loved ones who are immunocompromised and medically rely on clean air. In addition to the inconveniences this track brings, it also harms the most vulnerable in our community.”

Mayor Brad Welch called Tuesday’s meeting to order.

“Nothing was as divisive to our community as this motocross track. We have made numerous decisions here in Fairview, but this one has been drastic and hostile. In the end, we did what Fairview does best. I believe we found a solution where everybody wins,” Welch said.

Casey Anderson has served on the Fairview City Council for 11 years. He said he voted with the children and teens of Fairview in mind.

“I feel like the young people actually won with these results, because the other option was to sweepingly vote no. That would have demolished the track starting next week,” Anderson said. “Now they still have the rest of this year to get over there, try it out, and learn about motorcycles. We voted for opportunity for kids and adults to go down there and see if they love it.”

Anderson said after learning from this experience, he doubts discussion of a motocross track within city limits will ever resurface again.

Robert St. Jacques is newer to the Fairview Council.

“If I don’t want the noise, traffic, and drop in property value for myself, why would I want that for my neighbor?” St. Jacques said.

Cheney asked for a sunset provision. Anderson, the homeowner’s liaison, said when neighbors felt overlooked, they submitted a public appeal on June 11.

According to an alert on the Fairview City Government website all Fairview City Motocross Track operations are suspended until further notice.

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