Howard County go-kart race track wins first appeal, neighbors vow to keep fighting it
The Board of Appeals unanimously agreed Chris Siperko's race track falls under their jurisdiction on Thursday, after a hearing that lasted more than five hours.
This opens the door for Siperko to again try for a conditional use permit for the race track.
Meanwhile, neighbors who have been against the race track from the start vow they'll keep fighting it.
Defining an athletic field
When Siperko first built the race track at his Highland home, all he thought of was his son, Achilles.
"My son wants to be a professional driver, so there was nowhere local to practice," Siperko said.
When he started construction for it in December 2023, Siperko thought he had done his due diligence -- not finding anything online to suggest he couldn't build the race track on his property.
Siperko also consulted with a paving company.
"They said if it does not touch your driveway and go to the road, it's your own property. You don't need [a permit]," Siperko said.
He's now been fighting to keep it ever since.
The battle to stop the go-kart track
It didn't take long for his neighbors to start complaining about the go-kart track. The Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning also cited Siperko.
DPZ also dismissed his conditional use application for it, citing that go-karting isn't a permitted activity under the county code.
Under county code for outdoor athletic facilities, it notes conditional use permits may be granted in residential zones for athletic fields, swimming pools, tennis courts, disc golf courses, ropes courses, and archery ranges.
But in front of the four-member Board of Appeals on Thursday, Siperko's lawyer, Sang Oh, argued the race track is qualified to be an athletic field under county code -- even if it's not specifically listed.
G. Macy Nelson, the lawyer for Siperko's neighbors, said the Board of Appeals needs to refer only to the code's wording.
"Go-kart race track is not on that list, that was [DPZ's] rationale," Nelson said.
However, in the end, the Board of Appeals sided with Siperko. Several board members also said DPZ didn't give enough information as to why Siperko couldn't have the race track.
Nelson said he and his clients are ready to keep fighting this.
The next hearing for this case is set for June 26.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jack Suwinski's tiebreaking homer in the 9th lifts Pirates over struggling Cubs 3-2
CHICAGO (AP) — Jack Suwinski hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the ninth inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3-2 win over the struggling Chicago Cubs on Friday. Suwinski, a Chicago native, hit Daniel Palencia's (1-3) 1-1 fastball the opposite way, into the left-field bleachers for his third homer. The Pirates ended a five-game losing steak and sent the Cubs to their fourth loss in five games. Pete Crow-Armstrong broke out of a 3-for-41 slump by going 3 for 3 with his first RBI since July 30. Crow-Armstrong also was hit by a pitch and scored a run. The Cubs All-Star was thrown out twice on the bases; trying to stretch a single to double in the fourth and was caught stealing in the ninth after leading off with a single. Andrew McCutchen and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa each had an RBI double. The Cubs entered eight games behind surging NL Central-leading Milwaukee. Matt Shaw added a sac fly. Dennis Santana (4-4) got the final four outs for the win. Pirates rookie Braxton Ashcraft allowed one run on three hits in five innings, striking our four and walking none in his third and longest start Cubs start Colin Rea allowed one run on three hits in five innings. The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on McCutchen's double. The Cubs tied it in the bottom half on Crow-Armstrong's RBI single. Kiner-Falefa's RBI double in the seventh put Pittsburgh ahead 2-1. The Cubs tied it at 2 in the bottom half on Shaw's sac fly with the bases loaded, scoring Crow-Armstrong from third. Key moment The Cubs loaded the bases with none out in the seventh and scored only one run. After Shaw's sac fly, reliever Isaac Mattson got pinch hitter Carson Kelly and Justin Turner to pop out. Key stat Crow-Armstrong's double was his first extra base hit since Aug. 1. Up next Pirates RHP Mike Burrows (1-4, 4.66 ERA) faces Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (8-5, 3.19) on Saturday. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Deion Sanders, Colorado Dealt Concerning Recruiting Prediction
Deion Sanders, Colorado Dealt Concerning Recruiting Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When it comes to the 2026 recruiting class, the Colorado Buffaloes and Deion Sanders have struggled. So far, only landing 11 commitments, ranking No. 15 in the Big 12 and No. 65 in the nation. Their luck could soon change, with Rivals' Steve Wiltfong reporting that the Buffaloes, along with the Michigan Wolverines, the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Maryland Terrapins are the four finalists for athlete CJ Sadler. It's a high-powered battle, with Rivals Industry Rankings placing Sadler as a four-star recruit, the No. 6 athlete, the No. 1 player in Michigan and the No. 123 player in the nation. Working at both wide receiver and cornerback in 2024 for Cass Tech High School, he was solid, accumulating 51 receptions, 828 yards, nine touchdowns, 46 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception. Sadler Predicted to Pass on Colorado Unfortunately for Sanders and the Buffaloes, their chances of coming out on top are weak, with Rivals' Greg Smith logging an expert prediction for Sadler to choose North Carolina and head coach Bill Belichick. "With me with Coach Belichick, I had to just sit down and actually take it all in because it's Coach Belichick we're talking about,' Sadler said, according to Smith. "He coached Tom Brady and he's one of the greatest coaches ever in NFL history. Talking to him and soaking up game and talking football with him was great for sure.' For the Tar Heels, this would be a big addition to their 2026 recruiting class, which already features 35 commitments, ranking No. 4 in the ACC and No. 20 in the nation. Colorado Shouldn't Give Up on Sadler However, the Buffaloes shouldn't completely lose hope on this battle, because the athlete has previously given some major praise to the way Sanders runs the program. 'They have a great coaching staff. Coach Prime he just love the kids, love the players, he all about them," Sadler previously told Wiltfong. "That's very exciting and one thing to look at.' With a decision coming Friday, Colorado has only a few days left to turn things story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
24 minutes ago
- CBS News
Jack Suwinski's tiebreaking homer in the 9th lifts Pirates over struggling Cubs 3-2
Jack Suwinski hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the ninth inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3-2 win over the struggling Chicago Cubs on Friday. Suwinski, a Chicago native, hit Daniel Palencia's (1-3) 1-1 fastball the opposite way, into the left-field bleachers for his third homer. The Pirates ended a five-game losing steak and sent the Cubs to their fourth loss in five games. Pete Crow-Armstrong broke out of a 3-for-41 slump by going 3 for 3 with his first RBI since July 30. Crow-Armstrong also was hit by a pitch and scored a run. The Cubs All-Star was thrown out twice on the bases; trying to stretch a single to double in the fourth and was caught stealing in the ninth after leading off with a single. Andrew McCutchen and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa each had an RBI double. The Cubs entered eight games behind surging NL Central-leading Milwaukee. Matt Shaw added a sac fly. Dennis Santana (4-4) got the final four outs for the win. Pirates rookie Braxton Ashcraft allowed one run on three hits in five innings, striking out four and walking none in his third and longest start Cubs starter Colin Rea allowed one run on three hits in five innings. The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on McCutchen's double. The Cubs tied it in the bottom half on Crow-Armstrong's RBI single. Kiner-Falefa's RBI double in the seventh put Pittsburgh ahead 2-1. The Cubs tied it at 2 in the bottom half on Shaw's sac fly with the bases loaded, scoring Crow-Armstrong from third. The Cubs loaded the bases with none out in the seventh and scored only one run. After Shaw's sac fly, reliever Isaac Mattson got pinch-hitter Carson Kelly and Justin Turner to pop out. Crow-Armstrong's double was his first extra-base hit since Aug. 1. Pirates RHP Mike Burrows (1-4, 4.66 ERA) faces Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (8-5, 3.19) on Saturday. ___ AP MLB:
