Hamilton County planners put brakes on motocross dirt bike track

Staff photo by Mike Pare / A motocross dirt bike track was proposed at a farm off Ooltewah-Georgetown Road, shown Tuesday. But a planning panel denied the request.

By Mike Pare January 9, 2024 3 min read

A Hamilton County man’s proposal to build a practice motocross track was turned down by a planning panel after about two dozen opponents showed up at a meeting.

Opponents and some panel members worried Monday the proposed dirt bike track near Ooltewah-Georgetown Road could become a commercial venture in the future and expressed concerns about noise and dust.

“I see both sides, but it’s hard to get on board with commercialization of the property,” Hamilton County Commissioner Mike Chauncey, R-East Ridge, also a planning panel member, said at the meeting.