Lompoc City Council changed course in a vote on May 17 to continue discussion on the controversial Lompoc Valley Motorsports Park. Councilman Jim Mosby told the Sun the motorsports park will return to the City Council's agenda at its next meeting, scheduled for June 7.
The decision was prompted by a passionate public comment period in which dozens of residents took the mic and demanded the council to reconsider its vote at a special meeting on May 12 to kill the motorsports park project.
After more than an hour of such comments, Councilman Dirk Starbuck moved for the council to reconsider its previous vote. The motion passed 3-2, with Starbuck, Mosby, and Councilman Victor Vega voting in favor of reconsideration, and Mayor Bob Lingl and Councilman DeWayne Holmdahl voting against.
Thanks to Vega's reversed vote, city staff will prepare a report to present to the City Council for reconsideration of the motorsports park project. The decision was met with enthusiastic applause from many residents attending the meeting.
Lompoc resident Ruth McKenna, who sits on the Lompoc Valley Motorsports Park Project Committee, was one of the first few residents who commented asking councilmembers to change their minds.
"It's time to start listening to the majority of people who want the motorsports park to happen," McKenna said at the meeting. "I understand that all voices have to be heard, so please keep in mind that there are more motorhead people who would love to see this motorsports park happen than people who don't want the project to go through."
The pro-park crowd feels the project would give Lompoc a fun edge and boost tourism. But many residents aren't on board, voicing concerns about noise pollution, increased traffic, and a potential financial burden from the project.
Holmdahl pointed out that the issue isn't with the facility itself, but with its location.
"I didn't hear anyone in any of their comments say that we should put it in the river bottom, and that's what the big kicker is on this," he said at the meeting. "I've been here since 1950. I've seen a lot of things happen in this town, too, but a racetrack in the river bottom is not going to work."
