Council hears proposal for three-level indoor go-kart track at 7 John Walsh Boulevard

HQ Riverfront Enterprises presented plans to the Common Council to turn a former beer distributorship at 7 John Walsh Boulevard into a three-level electric go-kart racetrack with associated lobby, classroom and storage space. The application requires a council special permit and planning commission site-plan review and the commission asked for a noise study because the site's bowl-shaped topography could channel sound uphill.

Architect Joseph Thompson described ongoing engineering and sound studies and said the team had continued consultations with consulting engineers. "We've been working with the consulting engineers and continuing to study the sound," Thompson said. Resident Jen Zawake offered public support, calling the project a "unique business opportunity" that could create jobs and bring additional foot traffic to the riverfront. The council closed the hearing and referred the special-use permit to the planning commission and environmental review process, with the commission expected to consider noise and landscaping conditions as part of its review of the application.