Gardner will hold a public hearing on proposed horse track on Tuesday. What to know

Gardner officials plan to hold a public hearing on the proposed Bay State Racing racetrack this Tuesday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. The public hearing will be at City Hall in the Council Chamber.

Before the public hearing, there will be a City Council informal meeting between 6 and 7:30 p.m., during which Bay State Racing LLC will give a detailed presentation on the project to transform the current GAAMHA Carl E. Dahl House facility at 827 Green St. into an equestrian center for a variety of horse-related activities, including racing.

The hearing is required before the City Council can vote on whether or not to allow horse racing at the property.

Sign-ups to speak at the public hearing begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23. Written comments can be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, by email to Assistant City Clerk Elizabeth Doiron at edoiron@gardner-ma.gov or by mail to 95 Pleasant St., Gardner, MA 01440.

Why is there a public hearing?

Calvin Brooks, Gardner City Councilor at Large, said the City Council must conduct a public hearing before voting. He said the vote is pending until they host a public hearing but not killed.

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 128A, Section 13A , Gardner City Officials are required to hold a public hearing, with at least seven days notice of the time and place the hearing will take place, before voting to approve race tracks or racing meetings to occur within city limits.

"I'm interested to hear that presentation that Bay State Racing has prepared for us," he said. "Three major concerns I have are traffic, wetlands, and water supplies. Whatever is done in that area needs to be done to protect the water supply and the wetlands adjacent to the property."

Elizabeth Kazinskas, City Council president, said that state law does not require an informal meeting before the public hearing. She said the council decided to have one so that their questions could be answered and they could be well informed on the issue before the hearing.

What happens after the public hearing?

After the public hearing is closed, the Gardner City Council can vote on whether to allow 827 Green St. to be used as a running horse racing track where a state-approved licensee can conduct meetings under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 128A: Horse and Dog Racing Meetings .

Kazinskas said the city council has the option to vote to allow horse racing at the Green Street property during the next regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 5, or can motion to change the date of the vote.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Gardner will hold a public hearing on proposed horse track on Tuesday. What to know