Got a fast car? This might get your pulse racing

There are two roadblocks that sit between Jeremy Porter and the motorsports park he wants to build in Dawsonville in North Georgia.

Public hearings, set for Dec. 15 and Jan. 5, could green-light Porter’s $20 million dream project — or stop it in its tracks.

The proposed 153-acre development is billed as a country club for car enthusiasts, something Atlanta is missing, said Porter, chief executive officer and developer of the proposed Atlanta Motorsports Park off Duck Thurmond Road.

“It’s just like a golf country club, but instead of a golf course you have a driving course,” he said. “This is a place where I want to allow people with fast cars to be able to drive fast in a safe environment.”

Not everyone who has heard about the project shares Porter’s enthusiasm. A group of residents who call themselves Citizens4Dawson have been vocal in their opposition to the location of the motorsports park.

“We just don’t think a rural, agricultural, residential area is appropriate for this type of venture,” said Allison Schmitt, secretary of the citizen group.

But the location, and the development’s close proximity to Atlanta, are what excited Kent Hussey. He’s already purchased a membership in the club.

“I love cars, and I have several high-performance cars,” said Hussey, chief executive officer of Atlanta-based Spectrum Brands. “It doesn’t make any sense to own a high-performance car if you never get a chance to use it, and I think this will be a very safe and enjoyable way to get out and experience what a high-performance car can do.”

Introductory memberships range between $2,000 and $35,000, with monthly dues starting around $100 for most members, Porter said.

The development is expected to bring 20 to 25 jobs to Dawsonville and $4 million in tax revenue over eight to 10 years, he added.

Porter said the development consists of 3.14 miles of track broken up over three courses. It also would have many amenities that traditional country clubs have, including tennis courts, a swimming pool and walking trails. The multiphase plan also calls for private residences, retail shops, a fuel station, a clubhouse and garages that can be used for car storage.

“I hope this will be a place where families can come and have a good time,” he said. “There will be something for everybody, like at other country clubs.”

One of the major concerns Citizens4Dawson have is a lack of control over the noise level the development could produce, Schmitt said.

Porter said he hears the concerns of the citizen group and continues to take steps to mitigate the sound.

“I know the sound will be there and it will be an issue,” he said. “But I will do all I can to make sure what we do works with the community.”

Porter said he’s so committed to making sure the sound doesn’t overwhelm the community that he’s paid $3,000 for a sound study to be done by Atlanta-based Arpeggio Acoustic Consulting.

Schmitt said the citizen group also is concerned about the environment, the types of vehicles that will be allowed on the track and a plan for an off-road dirt bike course.

Porter said there is no plan for an off-road track and that a SuperMoto bike is a dirt bike on street tires.

“Those bikes will run on the same courses as the cars,” he said. “There’s no room for an off-road track with what we’ve proposed.”

He also said that in an effort not to adversely affect the environment, he made the once-200-acre development smaller so Sweetwater Creek would not be affected. He also said the development will be as “green” as he can make it, using reclaimed water for the bathrooms and seeking LEED certification.

LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a certification program created by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The program measures the energy efficiency of buildings and awards points for energy-saving measures such as daylighting to make maximum use of natural light and the use of recycled materials. According to the Building Council Web site, LEED is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

“We really want this to be a good thing for the community,” Porter said. “Because if we get out there and there are problems, it won’t be good for any of us.”

Schmitt said Citizens4Dawson will be represented at both public hearings. The group will voice its concerns while listening for solutions, she said.

“We’re not against the endeavor,” said Schmitt. “We want Dawsonville and Dawson County to be prosperous, because that means great things for everyone in the county. But not at the cost of devaluing everyone else’s property in the area.”