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Plainfield sued over racetrack
By FRANCESCA
KEFALAS
Norwich Bulletin
PLAINFIELD -- New England Raceway has filed four lawsuits against the town over the decision to rescind a zoning regulation that would have allowed the construction of a domed racetrack.
The lawsuits make it unlikely another developer interested in the land would come forward now, Town Planner Lou Soja said.
The lawsuits allege the Planning and Zoning Commission "acted illegally, arbitrarily and in abuse of the discretion vested in it by law" when it approved an application by First Selectman Kevin Cunningham to end the C-5 resort/recreation zone. The commission and Cunningham are defendants in the suits.
Connecticut Yankee Greyhound Racing joins New England Raceway as a plaintiff in the suits. A civil suit is the only way to appeal a planning and zoning decision under state law.
The zone was created at the request of Gene Arganese's company, New England Raceway, as a prerequisite to building a $400 million domed track. The zone was spread out across more than 822 acres between exits 87 and 88 off Interstate 395 and included the now-closed greyhound park.
The lawsuits are the second legal battle facing the town because of the zone. Concerned Citizens for the Quiet Corner appealed the decision that created the zone. That court case is scheduled to begin in October.
Racetrack developer Arganese said he could not comment on the lawsuits or his plans for the land and the racetrack.
"We will address it in the near future," Arganese said.
Carol and Harold Dodge own one of the parcels cited in the suit. Carol Dodge said she was surprised Arganese filed the suits, since, in the year the C-5 zone existed, he did not file any plans for the racetrack.
"Like anyone else coming into town, you would think he would have brought plans and designs," Dodge said. "But if you don't bring them, people are going to wonder. It leaves people hanging."
Dave Ertsgard, president of the Concerned Citizens for the Quiet Corner, said his group would have dropped its suits had Arganese not appealed.
"He is going to cost Plainfield a lot of money and, in the meantime, the town cannot move forward with developing that zone," Ertsgard said.
Reach Francesca Kefalas at 334-2509 or fkefalas@norwich bulletin.com
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