On March 13 the Asheville City Council will discuss the idea of a race track next to the Asheville Regional Airport on the Henderson County line, Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy says.

The city has yet to formally study or consider the idea, Bellamy reassured leaders of Henderson County, Fletcher and Mills River in a letter.

Leaders of the three Henderson County governments sent Bellamy a letter about three weeks ago expressing concerns about the speedway after some residents became alarmed.

“I certainly appreciate your position of concern for your respective communities,” Bellamy said in a reply dated Feb. 20. “Should consideration be given to a race track proposal, it should include an analysis of environmental, traffic, noise and other impacts.”

City leaders discussed the idea at a workshop meeting in January, but have not studied or discussed it since, she said. However the City Council is likely to discuss the race track idea March 13 when the board is set to discuss capital project priorities, Bellamy said.

“During this discussion, I will be seeking to gauge Council’s level of interest for various projects that have been previously identified,” Bellamy wrote. “Following this meeting, I will be in touch with you to share the conclusions.”

Many residents of Mills River and Fletcher have contacted their elected leaders concerning the idea of building a race track on 51 acres off Fanning Bridge Road. They include neighbors concerned about noise, traffic and pollution , as well as residents who support the idea.

Residents of High Vista spoke out against a race track on the same land next to the airport when the idea was first proposed seven years ago. An effort to put a race track in the Naples area hit a wall of local opposition.

Some racing enthusiasts, however, say the land next to the airport, with easy access to Interstate 26 via N.C. 280, could be the ticket to bring stock car racing back to the mountains.

The area has not had a race track since the old Asheville Motor Speedway closed and was transformed into a park almost eight years ago.