Opinion ID: 1166800
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Major Tourism Area of the State

Text: Relator next argues there is no rational basis for limiting the major tourism area of the state classification to the development of an auto race track facility to the exclusion of other forms and locations of tourism. In order for the Unified Government to issue bonds for this project, the Secretary of KDOCH must find that the project will create a major tourism area within the state. L. 1998, ch. 17, § 3(a)(1)(D) in part provides: In making a finding that a redevelopment project will create a major tourism area within the state, the secretary must conclude at least: (i) That capital improvements costing not less than $100,000,000 will be built in the state to construct a project for such major tourism area; and (ii) that the project constructed will be an auto race track facility. An auto race track facility means (i) an auto race facility and facilities directly related and necessary to the operation of an auto race track facility including, but not limited to, grandstands, suites and viewing areas, concessions and souvenir facilities, catering facilities, visitor and retail centers, signage and temporary hospitality facilities; but excluding (ii) hotels, motels, restaurants and retail facilities not included in (i). Relator argues that because this statute limits a redevelopment project, based on a characterization that the area is a major tourism area of the state, to the development of this particular auto race track facility in Wyandotte County, it violates the equal protection requirements of both the United States and Kansas Constitutions because there is no reasonable or rational basis for such a limitation. Relator further argues that the limitation establishes an improper distinction between the promotion of this particular auto race track facility and any other auto race track facility or potential major tourism area that could be developed in other areas of the state. The issue here is not whether there is a rational basis for the exclusion of certain forms of tourism from the definition of a major tourism area but, instead, whether the classification established by the legislature's inclusion of auto race track facilities in the definition of a major tourism area bears a rational relationship to the purpose of the legislation. Encouraging the location of auto race track facilities in the state of Kansas will, in fact, promote, stimulate, and develop the economic welfare of the state and its communities and assist in the development and redevelopment of major tourism areas, both of which are purposes of the urban redevelopment statutes. There is no equal protection violation merely because incentives for other segments of the tourism industry would also rationally relate to the purposes of the urban redevelopment statutes. Relator misconstrues the amendments contained in L. 1998, ch. 17 because the amendments do not distinguish between this proposed auto race track facility and any other auto race track facility or potential major tourism area that could be developed in other areas of the state. We hold the inclusion of an auto race track facility in the definition of a major tourism area bears a rational relationship to the furtherance of the economic development of the state. The amendments do not make a distinction between an auto race track facility in Wyandotte County and one in another area of the state.