Canadian Motor Speedway

Canadian Motor Speedway features many unique aspects for the racetrack layout and the total development. The design team will be led by 4-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon.[1]

The development is made up of three core areas, the oval and road course, centrally located, the research and development area to the south and east of the site, and the Commercial area to the north. The major parking and camping areas are located to the immediate west and southwest of the development.

One of the central design/development parameters is the 250 acre (101 hectare) environmental element. A master planned biodiversity park will be employed to enhance sustainability and passive connectivity throughout the site. The current environmental features of the site are being increased with the remediation of the Miller's Creek corridor and the implementation of filter beds in constrained areas.

The Canadian Motor Speedway was conceptualized in 2005. Site selection and investment began in 2007. Previous attempts at a speedway in Niagara, were made by other individuals and failed primarily due to lack of resources, a workable business plan, and a flawed development strategy. A complete review of the business model coupled by the formulation of alliances with Jeff Gordon Inc., and other development partners resulted in an opportunity that would meet investor expectations while creating significant value for local communities in the area. Following 14 months of comprehensive studies, that included 22 reports, the planning submission for a special policy area was made to the Town of Fort Erie and Region of Niagara in February/March 2009.[5]

A public open house hosted by Canadian Motor Speedway was held on June 4, 2009, to introduce the project to the public. The first presentation to Fort Erie Town council came on September 8, 2009, with the report from town staff of the application to amend the Fort Erie Official Plan and Zoning By-law.[6] Requests for recommendation reports on the Official Plan Amendment and Regional Official Plan Amendment were made on November 23, 2009,[7] and November 25, 2009 respectively. On December 7, 2009 following a 6+ hour council meeting that had 59 delegations the Town of Fort Erie Council voted unanimously to approve the Official Plan Amendment.[5] On December 9, 2009 the Region of Niagara council also voted unanimously to approve the Regional Official Plan Amendment.[8] The by-laws to enact the amendments were passed on December 14 by the Town of Fort Erie and February 11, 2010 by the Region of Niagara.

On September 7, 2010 the planning staff of the Town of Fort Erie submitted a recommendation report No. CDS-048-10 to council to approve the re-zoning application, of Canadian Motor Speedway.[9] The report was accepted and Fort Erie Town council voted unanimously to approve the re-zoning By-law No. 106-10 for the property for Canadian Motor Speedway after the third reading on September 13, 2010.[10][11] The 821 acre (332 hectare) site of the Canadian Motor Speedway is considered a Special Policy Area for the use of motorsport related activities.

Appeals against the development were taken to the Ontario Municipal Board for hearing in June 2012.[12] A decision was rendered on November 5, 2012 to approve the development and allow it to proceed, with certain holding provisions, to the next stage in the development process.

On October 9, 2013, construction began for the initial re-development of Miller Creek - a significant environmental enhancement on the site. The speedway is now expected to be completed by 2017.[13]

In the July 28, 2014 issue of Maclean's Magazine, an article about Canadian Motor Speedway appeared in the Economy section.[14]

On September 11, 2014, Jeff Gordon was in Toronto for the 'Chase Across North America' Sprint Cup Championship media tour and spoke of Canadian Motor Speedway.[1][15]

July 5, 2016 update:[16] Failed land purchase adds more delays to speedway project. Developers now claim they will have a building permit by 2017. No completion date for the project has been offered lately by the developers, but Fort Erie mayor Wayne Redekop recently told Buffalo radio station WBFO, that the speedway could be open by either late 2018 or "the first quarter of 2019."

As of April 2018, development remained stalled. Developers refuse to build the speedway unless an exit ramp is constructed for it off the Queen Elizabeth Way, a proposal the Ontario government at the time opposed (it was deposed in the 2018 elections).[17] The process remained completely stalled even after the change in government. In July 2019, the St. Catharines Standard attempted to follow-up with CMS officials regarding the project's status and was hung up on by all relevant parties.[18] The speedway has until September 13, 2020—the date that the speedway's zoning waiver expires—to file for a building permit; if none is filed by then, the project will be forcibly cancelled and the land will revert to being zoned for agriculture.[18] In August 2020, the project's developers emerged to request an extension on its zoning waiver, stating that a major backer had dropped out of the project and that they planned on beginning construction in early 2021 if the waiver were extended.[19]

• List of auto racing tracks in Canada

• Official website