Council Removes Motocross Track Restrictions

By Cynthia Drummond for BRVCA

March 5th 2025

RICHMOND – Tuesday’s Town Council meeting began early, at 5 p.m. rather than the usual 6 o’clock, with three public hearings that included the motocross track on Buttonwoods Road and a proposal from PVD Food Truck Events to use the Town Hall property for food truck events this summer.

Buttonwoods MX

The motocross track at 29 Buttonwoods Road has been, at times, a contentious subject for owner Jordan Carlson and the town, and a crowd of track supporters packed the council chambers.

It appeared that some observers were expecting the council to deny Carlson’s petition to amend the zoning ordinance, retaining the “flex tech” zone but removing two conditions from the designation. However, the council was prepared to grant Carlson’s request.

Attorney Rafaello Manzo, representing Carlson, told the council,

“As the council is aware, the decision included two conditions to the zone change, one which is the principal subject of tonight: ‘The applicant must receive Planning Board approval for the motocross facility through one of the review procedures applicable to the proposed facility at the time the application is submitted,’” he said. “I think that this hearing tonight with our present application is really more of a method to clear up confusion with the previous decision.”

That confusion stems from the addition to the town’s zoning ordinance of a motocross facility, which is permitted by right in the flex tech zone.

“The decision, one, permits the use of a motocross facility by right and also says that we must go to the Planning Board for approval,” Manzo told the council. “The main issue is that there’s no Planning Board approval that’s being obtained. There’s no structures being put up. There’s no alterations that required Planning Board approval. So, essentially the condition requiring that approval is in limbo, because the use is already permitted by right.”

Councilor Dan Madnick, who previously served as Vice Chair of the Planning Board, provided a history of the zoning designation.

The first condition requires Carlson to obtain Planning Board approval for the motocross facility and the second states that Carlson must have received the necessary state permits before submitting his application for Planning Board review.

Several audience members voiced their support for Carlson’s request, and Madnick made a motion to approve the amendment.

“The amendments requested by Mr. Carlson are to maintain the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Map designation as flex tech, as awarded on Sept. 5, 2023,” he said. “The two conditions, as recorded… will be removed.”

The vote to approve Carlson’s request was unanimous.

Food Trucks

At the third public hearing, Eric Weiner, the founder and CEO of P&EE Consulting Inc. and PVD Food Truck Events, requested the use of the Richmond Town Hall property for a series of monthly food truck events which would take place from May to August.

Participating in the meeting remotely, Weiner said he looked forward to returning to Richmond. Last year, the event moved to Hopkinton because of construction near the Richmond Town Hall.

“We’re basically looking to completely reproduce what we’ve done with amazing success; a group of food trucks, local beer and wine, live music, free to attend with an emphasis on food trucks that are local to Richmond or South County.”

Weiner said he had been discussing with town officials how the event would work with the new roundabout nearby.

Parking would be available in the lot across the street, however, council President Samantha Wilcox cautioned that the town would be building the recreation pavilion on the lot and that would preclude parking there.

“That may interfere with some of the later events,” she said. “We still don’t know for sure. …I want to move forward with having these events bringing them back for people, with the understanding that parking may not be available across the street for a few events there.”

Weiner said he would revisit the parking situation if construction began on the town lot.

A long discussion then ensued regarding the use of town property by a private entity, the need for an updated policy, and the lack of a contract stipulating the terms of use.

Madnick noted that the council was being asked to make a decision with neither a current policy nor a contract.

“I can’t believe what we’re walking into is another ad hoc  decision,” he said. “This town doesn’t have a policy for  renting and the use of public property. I believe that this request is the town subsidizing a private entity to improve their profit margins. Other towns charge fees to use their property to cover trash, rest room facilities and police details required.”

Wilcox agreed that a contract was needed. Council Vice President Mark Reynolds suggested agreeing on the terms of the relationship and asking Town Solicitor Christopher Zangari to draft a contract.

Reynolds also proposed charging a fee to use the property.

“We could designate a portion to the Rec [Recreation] Commission, or we could just put it into the general fund,” he said.

Madnick said the town should draft a contract that would include the conditions for use of the property and PVD would be free to accept or decline it.

It was clear that Weiner wasn’t happy with the way the discussion was going.

“That doesn’t feel like the spirit of the partnership,” he said. “This is not us coming in and asking to rent your property and not giving anything back to the community. This event is rooted in your community not having enough community events where they want to connect and get together. You’re framing this more of a rental agreement than a partnership that everyone wins from.”

There was a discussion of whether PVD should pay a rental fee for each event. Reynolds proposed $350. Councilor Jeffrey Dinsmore said he would be “more comfortable” with $500.

Weiner replied that his maximum total budget was $1,000 per night and offered a $200 - per event fee.

Madnick said he would have preferred to refer the matter to the Town’s Recreation Commission before it was brought to the council.

“We’re here. We have it on the agenda, so we have to go through this,” he said.

After agreeing on a $250 – per event fee, the council approved the license for the sale of alcoholic beverages and a second license for outdoor entertainment.

Zangari will draft a contract for the council to consider at the next meeting.

In other business, the council approved appointments to the Richmond Investment for Commercial Health Task Force. The three newest members of the seven-member body are Economic Development Commission member James Brear, Town Council member Jim Palmisciano and council member Jeffrey Dinsmore.

Town Administrator Karen Pinch received council approval to award the contract for construction at the dog Park to VRV and Sons Construction. The bid, $12,345.67, was the lowest of nine bids the town received, and the work will involve the installation of a concrete pad and a gazebo. The gazebo will be provided by the town.

The council also continued the discussion of the possible hiring of a grant writer and heard the results of a survey Pinch conducted of other towns to determine whether they had grant writers on staff or under contract.

The council approved the hiring of a new Emergency Management Director, Nicholas Linacre.