Sweden Town Board members denied the rezoning of vacant land on Sweden Walker Road for the purpose of holding “mud run” events several times each year October 10.
Mike and Janice Waeghe, who own the land, had requested the town change the zoning from R-1 Residential to B-3 Recreation-Commercial. Town officials said the vote was 4-0 against the zoning change.
During a public hearing on the zoning change held August 29, most residents who spoke were not in favor of the zoning change. Neighbors of the site said they were concerned about noise levels, decreased property value, environmental impact and trespassing onto neighboring properties.
“This is a residential neighborhood,” resident Frank Lapinski said during the public hearing. The zoning change to Recreation-Commercial would be, “incompatible with residential properties,” he said.
The Waeghes have held events on the site and Mike Waeghe told board members there would be no more than four mud runs each year. He said the events would be held on Sundays with most of the activity happening between noon and 5 p.m.
