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Go-kart entrepreneur eyeing different location, City says

Mad Max Go Karts has withdrawn the request to use the Western Financial Place parking lot to test out the go kart business in Cranbrook.

Mad Max Go Karts has withdrawn the request to use the Western Financial Place parking lot to test out the go kart business model in Cranbrook.

Mayor Wayne Stetski confirmed that Chris Hirn, who brought the request before council a number of weeks ago, has been offered another location that Hirn feels may be a better spot than the Western Financial Place parking lot.

"Staff are working on that new location and will have more to bring hopefully by the next meeting and maybe before that," Stetski said. "Hopefully we will see go karts in Cranbrook someday."

A few letters in opposition of the proposal were sent in to council by neighbours of the proposed track and  were included in Monday's agenda package.

The two letters said that neighbours were concerned with potential noise and pollution from the track, as well as having a longer distance to walk downtown because of the fence that would be put up around the track.

City staff had included a recommendation in that council not approve the track in the Western Financial Place parking lot.

In the report, staff outlined reasons for the recommendation.

One reason was that the space is already approved for the Brothers Insurance Agency Charity Car Show and if the track were in place it would have to be removed to hold the event, says the report.

Another reason staff gave in the report is that the space is used for other events, such as concerts. Last year there were two concerts held there, but staff is planning more events this year.

Staff gave other reasons having to do with long-term impact and confidential proposals for the rental space. There is also a $200-a-day rental fee in place for the lot.

The new location proposal will come back to council in the near future if all goes to plan for Mad Max Go Karts.