PROJECT NARA TIVE (by MXGP, Inc.)

 We are applying for a Commercial Conditional Use Permit and a land use rezone from Forestry to Forestry and Recreation. The reason for this permit and rezone is to build Granite Falls Motocross Park a motorcycle riding and racing facility. This location was chosen for the project because the property meets all the requirements for a motorcycle race track in snohomish County . The motorcycle recreation facility is also strongly supported by the Granite Falls Mayor and the city council of Granite Falls. The purpose of this narrative is to explain the project, the need for the project and address the written concerns that have been expressed by a few opposed to this project.

OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT: A motocross track is a closed course dirt track with jumps, turns and moguls. Riders are required to travel on the track in the proper direction and ride the specific track that is designed for their skill level. This facility will feature different tracks to cover all rider ages and skill levels. TYPES OF TRACKS:

1. A kid.s track planned for children ages 4 to 12 riding motorcycles from 50cc to 65cc two stroke engines, and sOcc to lsocc 4 stroke engines. The kid's track allows younger riders to ride and improve their skills without concern about interfering with faster riders.

2. A beginner track is designed for teenage and adult riders who have less track riding experience. The beginner track will have medium size jumps and moguls and a harder packed dirt surface. The beginner track allows people of all ages who want to learn to ride on a track and slower riders a fun and safe place to enjoy riding without being passed by faster riders.

3. Two main tracks are designed for advanced riders and racers. These tracks have full size jumps and moguls and deep loamy dirt to develop lines and ruts in the corners. Two tracks provide for practice day on one track while the other track is being groomed and prepared for the following day's use. The main track requires a lot of maintenance for the safety and enjoyment of the people who use it and will be groomed completely before each day's use. Having two main tracks also provides flexibility to have ATV riding days on one track while still having regular motorcycle practice on the other main track.

4. A flat track oval will be constructed with no jumps or moguls. This is a hard dirt oval track. This track will be used for instructional schools like ATV safety training and Honda's "Ready to Ride" program. This track can also be used for flat track type motorcycles and ATV's for practice and competition.

5. A freestyle area is designed with wood ramps and dirt landings for aerial tricks. This area will be used for freestyle shows and entertainment for spectators.

6. An indoor riding arena will provide riding opportunities in the winter time. For safety and rider enjoyment we don't utilize the outdoor tracks in the winter and rainy season. A multi-use design inside the arena will vary in set up with small jumps and moguls and other times with full size jumps and moguls. We may set it up with a flat track inside and do freestyle shows. On large race weekends we can use flat track, freestyle and indoor areas for overflow parking.

NEED: Over 100,000 motorcycles and ATVs are sold in King, snohomish and Skagit County every year. People need a place to ride and this project will provide all of those people a place to ride. Currently there is one track in Kent at Pacific Raceways (formerly SIR). Two trail riding areas are Reiter pit and Walker Valley for motorcycle and ATV recreation. Pacific Raceways has one track and is open one day a week for practice riding and one day a week for racing events during the summer. Pacific Raceways is a small track, the size of our beginner track, with medium jumps and moguls. Reiter pit and Walker valley are trail riding areas with riders going in all directions and with no supervision. There are no set tracks, no jumps or moguls and no medical assistance is provided. These areas are not suitable for most riders, especially kids. The only option for families currently is to travel to Richland, WA or down to Washougal, WA. Each of these areas is over four hours and 200 miles away.

WRITTEN CONCERNS: I have read all of the letters that have been sent to the county regarding our proposal. There are six (14) letters from people who live in Granite Falls and six (16) more letters from people in Snohomish County. All other letters are duplicate letters or from people out of town and most are from people out of state. The concerns of the people that wrote the letters are noise, traffic, dust, health, fire, safety , theft, loss of hiking and biking trails, loss of pristine forest land, and trespassing. Noise: Under Snohomish County code, we have very strict sound regulations that must be met. We can comply with these regulations without building the sound berm for phases one and two. We will complete the sound berm to the east before completing phases 3,4 and S. We are not required to have a sound berm around the entire park; however, we want to do more than is required to control sound so that the neighboring properties won't hear motorcycles. Sound berms work. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway motocross track has a 15 foot high berm and 400 feet away from the track no noise can be heard! (See noise study) Traffic: On normal practice days the traffic impacts are minimal. On race days not ail people arrive at the same time. Also as races end people trickle out of the park. It is not like a ball game that ends all at once and everyone leaves at the same time. At our old track in Monroe we never had a problem with traffic. (See traffic study and traffic narrative) Dust: We use a golf course-like sprinkler system to control dust from the tracks and the parking areas. Tracks are watered often because it is very hard to see while riding if the track is dusty. No dust will leave the property . Health, fire and safety. Our staff includes a medic with life saving capabilities and two EMT's to assist him at every event. We will not put undue stress on the local fire department. On a very rare occasion we will have to call 911 for assistance. At our Monroe track we averaged less than fifteen 911 calls per year. We wiil have fire extinguisher stations every 75 feet in our parking areas and in ail of the spectator areas. We had no fires in the 5 years at our Monroe track. If there is a fire it would be contained inside the park with no chance for a forest fire. Riders, campers, motorcycles and vehicles are required to stay inside the park area at all times. A chain link fence will surround the park and security will be present to ensure that people don't get outside the park. Theft. The crime rate will not increase in the area from people who are coming to the park to ride, race or watch. These are mostly middle income families as Motocross is an expensive sport. Motocross bikes cost anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000 and each rider needs about $1,000 worth of riding gear. Because motorcycles are transported to the park rather than ridden, a truck, trailer or motorhome is also required. people are coming to the track to enjOy a day or weekend of riding with their families, not to rob the neighboring properties. I seriously doubt that any police agency can cite incidents of theft by motocross families. Loss of hiking and biking trails: This property is private property and is posted "No Trespassing". There are no trails on the property only old abandoned logging roads. We spent a whole day cutting the logs out of the roads that had failen across them. Not only are the people that say they are using this property for hiking and biking breaking the law by trespassing, they are also carrying their bikes over hundreds of wind-fall logs. It is doubtful that there are any current recreational uses on this property . Loss of pristine forest land: This property has been clear cut. 100% of the timber has been logged off this property. Our project will preserve 391 acres of forest land for animal habitat. Under provisions of this permit application, this land cannot be developed and the track area cannot be expanded. If this land is sold to a gravel company it will be mined and all of the animal habitat and forest land will be lost forever . Communication and explanation of project to neighbors and community I have personaily gone and met with businesses and neighbors of the proposed facility . I met with neighbors and addressed their questions and concerns at The Inn, four miles east up the Mountain Loop Highway. Aproximately 25 people showed up. After explaining the project all but one person came up and shook my hand and told me that they were not against the project and wished me luck. One individual continued to be very upset about the project and was sure that riders and racers were going to hike through the woods and trespass on his land and steal his stuff. On Friday 10/21/07, I met with the Healing Hearts of Hope Foundation, neighbors and Councilman John Koster's legislative aid. I explained the project and answered all of their questions. Teresa Flying Eagle Baird expressed concerns that the noise would be bad for rehabilitating Veterans. The property where she proposed to have this Veterans center is aprox 2.5 miles from the proposed track site and is aprox 100 feet in elevation lower than the proposed track. (The facility does not currently exist). I had my noise consultant make a trip up to the property after this meeting to review her concerns. He said that there would be no measurable noise impacts on her enterprize. The neighbors that were there with Ms Baird were still concerned. They cited all of the concerns listed and asked me to move the project to a different location ("not in my backyard" argument). I will continue to meet with neighbors and address their concerns now and in the future.

SUMMARY: This project is a social and economic benefit to the Granite Fails community and to Snohomish County . This recreational facility will bring tourist dollars to Granite Falls and to Snohomish County. Granite Falls Motocross Park will also be a place for Granite fails youth to work, participate and socialize in a supervised yet fun setting. At our track in Monroe we worked with the youth group of the Rock Church. They earned money for mission trips and points for "learn to ride camps" . We plan to expand that very successful program in Granite Falls with local churches and youth groups. This project works. It was very successful in Monroe we have a proven track record of operating a high quality recreational facility. We have also done our homework, traveling to other tracks like Las Vegas Motor Speedway to the World Mini Championships. I have experienced first hand how well the sound berm works. Even without the sound berm, our study shows that we will meet Snohomish County sound requirements. By building the sound berm we will be an even better neighbor and ensure sound wiil not be an issue for future growth in the area. With all of our studies, Engineering studies, biological studies, traffic studies, sound studies, geotechnical studies and drainage report, we have met ail of Snohomish County's requirements. This is the perfect location for Granite Fails Motocross Park. If we can't build a facility here there is no better place to have a track. We look forward to the approval of this project.