Laguna Seca Lawsuit Dropped
L
aguna Seca will continue
operations as usual after the
Highway 68 Coalition agreed to
drop its litigation that targeted
the concession agreement be
-
tween the County of Monterey
and the nonprofit Friends of
Laguna Seca (FLS).
The Highway 68 Coalition
launched a lawsuit against the
County of Monterey and FLS in
December 2023, claiming the
county was not within its rights to
approve a new concession agree
-
ment. The group cited a state-
mandated study to investigate the
environmental impact of exces-
sive noise by having more cars
and bikes on the track had not
been carried out and thus the con-
cession agreement was invalid.
The Highway 68 Coalition (a
group comprising local residents)
argued in court the County of
Monterey should "cease and
desist" any further track activity
at Laguna Seca as the current
noise levels are now higher than
when the zoning for the track was
established in 1985.
Racing cars and motorcycles
have been in operation at Laguna
Seca since the track was built
in 1957 on Fort Ord property
provided by the U.S. Army.
With the lawsuit now dropped,
FLS can begin the process of
taking over control of Laguna
Seca for up to 55 years from
incumbent A&D Narigi.
The county must ensure public
notification of the Facility Master
Plan for the recreation area and
assume responsibility for sound
assessment and mitigation if FLS
fails to meet the conditions out
-
lined in its concession agreement,
resulting in contract termination.
These conditions, which are
associated with specific dead
-
lines, will require adjustment.
They entail FLS depositing $6
million into its bank account,
obtaining approval from the
U.S. Department of the Interior
confirming that the concession
agreement aligns with the terms
of the Army's land deed to the
county, and reaching a financial
agreement with the county con
-
cerning future profits.
FLS is anticipated to invest
$10 million in the initial phase of
track operations, aiming to boost
revenue. Upon fulfilling this com
-
mitment, starting in 2028, FLS
will allocate 10 percent of annual
net revenue back to the County
of Monterey.
But for the foreseeable future,
it's business as usual at Laguna
Seca.
CN
WIND
IN THE
P52
Laguna Seca is now
free of the lawsuit that
threatened its future.
