It was standing room only at the Mahoning Township Zoning Board Hearing on Thursday evening at the Mahoning Ambulance Building. In the end, the zoning board upheld two of the three zoning violations against Calogero Carlino, owner of the Mahoning Valley Speedway.

Zoning Board Chairman Charles Pollock recused himself from the hearing, citing his previous work with the speedway. The remaining board members present were Thomas Zimmerman and Sandra Palinchak.

The board ruled that using a portion of the building for an apartment (not a permitted use in the C-1 zoning district), and the Car Meet & Voceteo & Chipeo held at the track are not permitted under the variances obtained for the property.

The third violation, construction of a racetrack for radio-controlled cars or trucks without applying/receiving permit, was not upheld.

Attorney Matthew Schnell, solicitor for the Mahoning Township Zoning Hearing Board, conducted the hearing. Zoning Officer Carl Faust testified to the violations he issued to the track. After hearing from the remaining witnesses for both the township and for the speedway, various members of the public addressed the hearing.

Faust spoke on the issue involving the car shows and music.

“The problem is, they put on these car shows and included the Voceteo and Chipeo events, and that’s not a permitted use in that zoning district, and no one ever applied for a permit to even put a show like that on,” he said.

When asked what Voceteo and Chipeo are, Faust replied, “Basically, the way I understand it, there are a lot of cars and trucks with a lot of speakers and a lot of sound, and I guess they compete to see who can put out the most sound.”

Faust said he heard complaints at the May supervisors meeting.

“There were a lot of very upset neighbors complaining about the loud noise, and it was pretty far away,” Faust said. He was contacted by numerous people before the June 13 meet.

“Following that meeting, I had more complaints about the same thing, the noise. Another event is scheduled for Nov. 20.”

Several township residents who live near the racetrack testified to the extremely loud music that was played at the track events, sometimes going on all day long into the evening. Several people testified on behalf of Carlino and the racetrack, defending the track and the events being held there.

The biggest issue is the car shows with the music.

Mahoning Township resident Charles Abrachinsky said, “My grandson, who lives with us, is autistic, and he lives in a quiet, isolated world. On those occasions, felt the wall vibrate, his bed vibrate, stuff moving on the shelves. Nobody needs to suffer anguish like that!”

Resident Kay Gilbert said, “I wouldn’t be speaking here now if I hadn’t gone down to the racetrack the day of that horrible music.”

She said she went to the track and asked them to turn down the music and they declined.

“It was louder at my house that day than it was down at the racetrack because they have speakers pointing toward Abrachinsky’s, toward Rick’s Service Station, and at the other end they point toward DiGilio’s and the other neighbor’s, the Kunkles.”

Carlino testified, “It’s a good income for us, with the food and the service we provide at the track. It’s great money for us.”

Carlino indicated that for the past two years, they have only had about 20 races per year, which does not bring in much money.

“With the property taxes and amusement taxes we have to pay, I don’t think we would survive,” he pointed out. “We’re trying every avenue to try to bring in an income. Maybe the music was not a good idea, but we need to generate more income, or it will all stop for everybody.”

Dean Strohl Jr. spoke in favor of the small dirt track for remote control cars. “I was part of the club when they were in McAdoo. There’s nothing for kids to do any more. I applaud you for doing this for the kids. I don’t understand what a little track outside has to do with anything.”

He said both adults and kids use the track.

“LaRose’s closed down, so there’s no roller skating now. What else are kids supposed to do? I think this should continue; it does not interrupt anybody else’s life.”

Carlino is requesting a use variance for the track, and their attorneys will work together to schedule a date for that meeting.

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