Laguna Seca Noise Lawsuit Settlement
The County of Monterey, Friends of Laguna Seca, competitors and fans are all celebrating a positive settlement for the future of Laguna Seca Raceway which had been under threat following a lawsuit brought by a local residents and land owners, known as Highway 68 Coalition, complaining about the activity and noise at the famed motor sports venue.
The County of Monterey Department of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks and Friends of Laguna Seca (FLS) announced the execution of a comprehensive settlement that ends the Laguna Seca Raceway lawsuit, Highway 68 Coalition vs. County of Monterey.
“We view this as a very favourable resolution for the County and its long-term partner at Laguna Seca, the non-profit organization Friends of Laguna Seca,” stated Nick Pasculli, County Communications Director.
“The future of the track and the amazing recreation area, which is a premier County Park, is bright. Laguna Seca is loved by local, national, and global car enthusiasts and also by the tens of thousands of people who enjoy the beauty of the recreation area.”
In 2023, the County of Monterey entered into a long-term Concession Agreement with local non-profit Friends of Laguna Seca (FLS) for the operation of the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, which includes WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Under the terms of the deal, FLS will take over the commercial dealings for the track for a period as long as 50 years while bearing the cost of maintaining the property and making capital improvements and sharing a portion of its revenues with the County of Monterey. A&D Narigi, meanwhile, will continue to manage and operate the track under the stewardship of FLS.
But in December 2023, the Highway 68 Coalition, (a longstanding group of local residents and landowners), sued the County of Monterey and FLS claiming the County was wrong to approve the new Concession Agreement because, among other things, a state-mandated environmental study to consider the impact of noise produced by increasing activity at the racetrack had not been carried out.
Highway 68 Coalition asked the court to vacate the new Concession Agreement and order the County of Monterey and FLS to “cease and desist” from allowing activity at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to produce noise levels “in excess of the level of use and noise that existed at the time…when the applicable zoning was established” in 1985.
A hearing on the case was scheduled to be held June 20, 2024, but both parties to the litigation have agreed to a settlement that will end the lawsuit and allow operations to continue at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
In the settlement, FLS agrees that within 30 days of taking operational control of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca it will contract a third-party ‘acoustical consultant’ to record ambient noise levels in the area around the track during periods of inactivity, during major motorsports events, and during track rental events and “identify feasible mitigation measures to reduce sound levels from the levels detected.”
FLS also agrees to spend up to $2 million (including the cost of the noise study) to complete one or all of the proposed noise mitigation measures within five years. The County of Monterey also agreed to pay the legal costs of Highway 68 Coalition, which amounted to $75,000. In return, Highway 68 Coalition agreed to file a dismissal of its lawsuit with the court.
FLS has not yet taken operational control of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, but will “soon,” FLS President Ross Merrill said during a press conference after the settlement.
The settlement clarifies the long-term plans of FLS to conduct a previously planned sound impact assessment at the racetrack and carry out appropriate sound mitigation measures, all as part of being a good neighbour to the surrounding community.’
Friends of Laguna Seca President Ross Merrill, said: “FLS is pleased that the litigation was dealt with quickly and we’re looking forward to our next steps toward Laguna Seca’s long-term success for the benefit of the community of Monterey County and the entire racing world,” said “We know these improvements will take time, but we are committed to ensuring the success of Laguna Seca for decades to come.”
The County and Friends of Laguna Seca especially thanked the loyal fans of the racetrack and the public who voiced their overwhelming support for the County in this lawsuit.
“I grew up watching races at Laguna Seca and have raced there since the late 1970s,” said Bruce Canepa, Vice President, Friends of Laguna Seca. “I have a lifetime passion for this facility and want to see it be preserved for future generations. With Friends of Laguna Seca, we’ve built a team of individuals who share the same passion, paired with business acumen, to make Laguna Seca the place we’ve always hoped it could be.”
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has a rich history of hosting world-class racing events, and non-profit initiatives benefiting the community and driving prosperity for the region.
Pic caption:
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Photo courtesy WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.