Apex Motor Club returns to P&Z for new permit

Fresh off victories in court, the officers of Apex Motor Club were back before Maricopa Planning & Zoning Commission on Monday seeking a development review permit.

Private Motorsports Group, the limited liability company that is creating Apex, plans a private race track for high-end sports cars on the property at the northwest corner of State Route 238 and Ralston Road. P&Z voted unanimously to recommend the permit to city council.

“At this point, it is our plan to have it fully built out in three to four years,” said Jason Plotke, president of PMG and Apex.

The property is divided diagonally, southwest to northeast, by a wash. Phase 1 of the development will include much of the southern half. That will involve one race track, the parking lot, garage condos and access road with gatehouse.

There are 23 stipulations Apex must meet. Staff described the permit application as “substantially compliant” with the zoning code.

City planner Rodolfo Lopez said his department is not asking Apex to put in landscaping at this point. Instead, those requirements will be moved to the last stage.

Apex first came before P&Z in April, eventually acquiring a conditional use permit from the city council. That sparked two lawsuits – one from a political action committee and another from a resident – that targeted the council, the commission, Apex and city staff.

The suit filed by Maricopa Citizens Protecting Taxpayers went all the way to the Arizona Supreme Court, where it was denied. Pinal County Superior Court Judge Robert Olson turned away the suit filed by former attorney general Grant Woods on behalf of Bonita Burks for lack of standing.

Monday, Commissioner Ted Yocum questioned Plotke to clarify how the main access would operate. Plotke said members will have a gate card for quick access. During public events, visitors will stop at the gatehouse. Plotke said if there is enough guest traffic that it backs up onto State Route 238, “we would manage that.”

That could involve adding a temporary entry gate farther up the long driveway and adding security, he said.

Under questioning by Commissioner Bryon Joyce, contractors LGE Design Group indicated no construction would occur at night.

The development review permit next goes before the city council for final approval.