Proposed horse track in Jefferson County draws concern

LLOYD (FBW)—It was an unexpected Christmas gift David Hall wishes would go away.

A set of signs along the road announced the intent to develop what he thought were protected wetlands near his church and his land into what he later learned could become a full-fledged Quarter Horse track— complete with poker cardroom, dance hall, bowling alley and restaurant.

Members of First Baptist Church in Lloyd, located in a sleepy bedroom community just 23 miles east of Tallahassee, were shaking their heads in disbelief Hall said, when just days before New Years they realized horse racing—accompanied by other forms of gambling—might be making a comeback just three quarters of a mile from their church sanctuary.

Hall, a Sunday School teacher at First Baptist in Lloyd, said he was away in California caring for his ailing father when he read a story in the local newspaper announcing the return of Quarter Horse racing to Florida after nearly two decades.

According to the story in the Tallahassee News-Press, developers hope to have a $16.5 million facility up and running in 2008 on 117.71 acres of land at the intersection of State Road 59 (Gamble Road) and Interstate Highway 10. News-press.com says the development comes at a time the pari-mutuel industry is on a losing streak— except for the income it turns around in its card rooms.

Pastor George Smith said he is concerned about three issues related to the track: geology, hydrology and morality. He's baffled that environmental concerns alone have not halted the plans—and convinced the facility will have little to do with the pursuit of equestrian events.

"We believe it is a front, not just horseracing," Smith told Florida Baptist Witness, "that it will eventually bring in a pari-mutuel facility where gambling will be going on."

Smith said research in similar instances has shown an increase in the crime rate by nearly 300 percent after similar facilities move into town. Having already moved the church of just under 200 to two Sunday morning worship services, the pastor said the church now wonders whether plans to expand its own facility is wise.

"We just don't want as a church this type of environment in our community," Smith said, citing the presence of a "relatively small" dog track with a cardroom already on the east side of the county.

In a slide show Hall presented to members at a Sunday night service Jan. 6, the track is shown bordered by wetlands and a preservation area. The presentation mentions five large sink holes in the area and an inadequate number of culverts and run-off area.

Smith said he believes the parking surface alone is likely not sufficient to support the infrastructure of the development—and even if it is—will present a problem with run off which could contaminate the wells and aquifer which supply the community's water.

Many of the calculations for the space needed for the numbers of horses and people, structures and parking appear to be inconsistent with basic calculations for standard building codes and statutes, according to Hall's presentation.

According to an article at bloodhorse.com, those who hold Quarter Horse races must each year hold 40 dates of at least eight races to operate interstate simulcasting and cardrooms. And a percentage of Thoroughbred racing is also allowed, although in the case of "Jefferson Downs," the proposed name for the new venture, under current state statutes, the Jefferson County Kennel, which operates the Greyhound track, would have to grant approval because of its jai alai operation.

Florida currently has three Thoroughbred tracks, according to the article, a harness track, 16 Greyhound tracks, and six jai alai frontons. There are no such restrictions on Quarter Horse permits—and another track license has been approved for Hamilton Downs near Jasper in Hamilton County.

In a county where Hall says there are "more cows than people," it may take just a handful to determine the way of life in the Big Bend area of the state, he told the Witness.

"This is an under the radar thing. Nobody knows it's happening. If you read the proposal, they are not telling the whole truth," Hall said. "Gambling and casinos are based on deception and as Christians we ought to be against gambling. It is like a tax on those who lose."

Expressing frustration at being kept in the dark about plans for the development—until it appears it is on a fast track—Hall said the effect of such a facility, in addition to the moral concerns, would be like unloading the waste from a nuclear power plant onto the property.

"They are trying to come in as a nice horse place," Hall said. "This is going to put a dent in our county."

Both Hall and Smith cited insufficient roads to handle an increase in traffic and safety concerns, describing a lack of fire and police support and nearby medical facilities.

"We expect this part of the county to grow and bring in families, but not with this," Hall said. "This is going to impact this area in a big way."

Over 300 packed a meeting of the Jefferson County Planning Commission Jan. 10 at the Monticello Courthouse in Jefferson County after Hall, Smith and other concerned neighbors spread the word about the proposed track.

After a five-hour meeting which ended in a 5-4 vote of the planning committee, Hall said the only thing that was clear was that the commission had given a "no" vote to a "yes" vote on whether to recommend the proposal to the county commission which meets Jan. 17.

Previous practice on the part of the planning commission shows that a "no" to a "yes" is the equivalent of a denial, Hall told the Witness.

Describing the meeting as contentious where lawyers spoke on behalf of the developers and at least one lawyer represented an area family that opposes the race track—Hall said even the elderly members of the community stood until their voices were heard and their positions were represented.

According to a report in the Tallahassee Democrat at least one business owner, Anthony Conticello of Tallahassee, who owns a Subway restaurant at State Road 59, said the race track's additional business seems like it would be a "good opportunity."

The Democrat said Gaczewski drew a thunderous applause from the audience when he said in response to Conticello, the Subway restaurant owner: "I bought my last Subway sandwich today."

Equestrian Land Holdings will spend between $14 million and $22 million on the project, which will create 58 jobs paying just under $30,000, according to company officials, the Democrat said.

Other speakers cited environmental concerns and lack of enough details to make informed decisions.

"We did not come to Jefferson County to be surrounded by gambling and inebriated drinkers," said Kari Beck, who lives on the nearby Ten Oaks Farms, according to the Democrat. Hall said the Beck family has retained a lawyer who has cited a "morality" clause of sorts in the Land Use provision of the county code.

"It's our get out of jail card," Hall said. He is encouraged by the vote of the planning commission and said "anything can happen."

The Jan. 17 meeting of the Jefferson County Commissioners is at 6 p.m. on the second floor of the Monticello Courthouse in Jefferson County.