The Tampa Tribune
By Laura Kinsler | Tribune Staff
Published: April 9, 2015 | Updated: April 10, 2015 at 12:08 AM
DADE CITY — Pasco commissioners approved a new permit for motocross star Chad Reed’s personal training compound east of Dade City, but only after the rider agreed to reduce the number of hours he could ride on Saturdays.
Reed owns the 63-acre compound on Duck Lake Canal Road. The property has two outdoor replicas of indoor supercross tracks, a meandering 11-acre motocross track and a mile-long paved track, which he uses to race go-karts.
The vote resolves a years-long legal battle between Reed and the county, and gives some relief to neighbors who say the noise from Reed’s training tracks is a constant annoyance.
“We think this is a great solution,” attorney Barbara Wilhite said of the mediated settlement.
Chairman Ted Schrader and several other commissioners visited the neighborhood to hear firsthand what they’ve been complaining about since Reed bought the property 11 years ago. Schrader pressed the Reed camp to give up riding on weekends, but Wilhite refused.
She said Reed needs the flexibility to be able to train on weekends if weather disrupts his training regimen during the week. She also pointed out that the go-kart track is a recreational activity and something he enjoys with his friends and family on the weekends. They agreed to cut the permitted training time on Saturdays from four hours to two hours.
The settlement also requires Reed to monitor all of the racing activity with time-stamp video and to keep the records for at least a month.
The permit allows Reed and his friends to ride up to five dirt bikes at a time, as long as they don’t exceed the maximum sound limit set by the American Motorcyclist Association, 116 decibels. It also specifies the hours and days Reed can use the tracks. He is not permitted to train at all on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
Assistant County Attorney Kristi Sims, who sued Reed in 2013 on behalf of the neighbors, said the video component of the agreement is critical to assure Reed complies with the riding conditions.
“I hope you understand that code enforcement cannot run out there at 8:15 at night to determine if someone is riding on the tracks,” she said.
Wilhite said county inspectors had already used the system to investigate a code complaint. “My client wasn’t happy about spending thousands of dollars on video surveillance equipment, but I told him it would protect him from unfounded claims — and it did,” Wilhite said.
Attorney Len Johnson represented the Larkin family, who live next to the compound, and spoke in favor of the agreement.
“Don’t get the impression we’re delighted with a motorcycle track next door — we’d rather have crickets and cows,” he said. “We understand the legal reality of where we are. We understand property rights.”
In other business, commissioners adopted a new interlocal agreement with the Pasco sheriff’s office that codifies the changes at the 911 Communications Center that were requested by Sheriff Chris Nocco. Adding new positions, such as assistant 911 director and quality assurance manager, will cost about $300,000 a year.
“This will save lives,” Nocco said.
Both Nocco and County Administrator Michele Baker said the negotiation marked a new chapter in their working relationship, which had reached a low point last month.
“I think this is a foretell of the way our relationship is going to go from now on,” Baker said.
lkinsler@tampatrib.com