GREAT BARRINGTON - The former owners of Suffolk Downs are hoping to bring horse racing back to the Great Barrington Fairgrounds.

A special town meeting is deciding if residents will have a say in whether the races return. 

“What we want it to be is a stand-alone bill that could be taken up by way of our legislators to ensure the right that anytime commercial horse racing is brought to our town, that we can vote on as to whether we want that in our town or not," said Janel Munoa, a member of Citizens Concerned About Great Barrington Horse Racing -- a citizen group opposing the return of commercial horse racing. 

The group identified several potential negative effects, including increased traffic and animal welfare. 

Munoa said racing also wouldn't bring in the steady jobs the town is hoping for. 

“We looked into the job situation, and it would be only part-time jobs for folks, with no benefits, and it would be just seasonal," Munoa said. 

The Fairgrounds haven't hosted any horse racing events in over 20 years. Suffolk's plan is to renovate the grounds to be able to host racing once again, as well as other events. 

Sterling Suffolk COO Chip Tuttle said in a statement that the company continues to have a strong interest in refurbishing the property for horse racing and other agricultural and entertainment activities. 

He also says the company welcomes a local approval process and looks forward to additional community discussion. 

Munoa believes when all factors are taken into account, town voters will see the impacts of horse racing are too costly. She says there are a lot of other ideas about what to do with the fairgrounds space. 

“I’ve heard discussions about having a dog park, having a big, local community place. Because it is on a floodplain, there is an issue for development on there, but there have been innovative thoughts about a green affordable housing space that you would have to put on stilts," Munoa said.