PUBLICATION: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
DATE: May 23, 1998
SECTION: Arlington; Pg. 1
BYLINE: Jeff Prince
DATELINE: Arlington, Texas
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that city officials in Arlington, Texas are arguing with nuns at the Carmel of the Holy Trinity monastery over the price of some land the city wants to buy from the nuns to expand a street. In addition, the nuns want the city to build a noise wall to protect their property from increased traffic noise, but city officials won't agree to do so. The article notes that negotiations continue, but the city also filed documents this week to initiate an eminent domain hearing, in which court-appointed commissioners would determine the fair market value of the property.
The article reports that the city's road project will extend Bowen Road and expand Sublett Road. City officials want to acquire about 5 acres from the monastery, which is located at 5801 Mt. Carmel Drive, just north of Sublett Road and west of Cooper Street. The nuns already dedicated about two acres to the city in 1984, and the city has offered about $28,000 for the remaining three acres, according to Roger Venables, a real estate representative for the city. The article explains that the city has paid varying prices for nearby property. A 1.97-acre lot near Sublett and Bowen roads sold for $20,000, but a 2.09-acre site near Sublett and Poly Webb roads went for $130,000, according to Venables. He said the higher price was paid because the city needed to purchase an entire property.
The article goes on to describe the monastery, located on a 52-acre site, and its inhabitants. A dozen cloistered nuns live at the monastery and share a communal lifestyle. The nuns have taken lifelong vows of poverty, chastity, silence, and obedience. Few people ever see the nuns, the article says, who follow a rule to "stay in [their] own cells or nearby, pondering the Lord's law day and night and keeping watch at [their] prayers." The article explains that the serenity of the monastery can be startling. The site is surrounded by streets, homes and the normal commotion of city life, but fences, trees, and shrubs buffer the noise with surprising success. The article notes that the only sounds within the monastery are birds, a rustling breeze, and occasional bells. South Arlington resident Judy Chaney attends the monastery's public Mass most mornings, and said, "When I drive through those gates, it's like you left the whole world behind you. It's so quiet and serene and conducive to prayer. It takes you away from all the distractions. That's what their life is all about."
According to the article, the nuns say they expect to lose the five acres, but they say the land is worth much more than the city is offering, said their lawyer Earl Hale. Still, the biggest obstacle in negotiations is a noise wall the nuns want the city to build to block the anticipated traffic sounds coming from the larger roads. The article notes that a concrete noise wall is estimated to cost $450,000. Instead of a noise wall, the city has offered to provide a standard wooden privacy fence on the nuns' property next to the planned street construction. The article explains that the city also is purchasing a part of a mobile home park that borders the monastery to the west. But the project will extend the road up to a thick row of 10-feet-tall bushes that has helped stifle noise at the monastery up to now. The article notes that it's doubtful whether the bushes and even a proposed privacy fence, could mitigate the noise created by a four-lane road. Bill Verkest, director of the city's Department of Engineering Services, said if a privacy fence is built, it will shield the monastery from the public. He added, "Will there be increased traffic noise? Sure, no doubt about it. "
PUBLICATION: Mainichi Daily News
DATE: May 23, 1998
SECTION: Page 1; Front Page
BYLINE: Tomoaki Takakura
DATELINE: Naha, Japan
The Mainichi Daily News reports that the Fukuoka High Court in Naha, Japan ordered the government Friday to compensate residents living near the U.S. Kadena Air Base for noise pollution caused by late-night flights. The court agreed with residents that the jet noise has inflicted psychological damage, but rejected a demand to have the flights banned.
According to the article, the ruling upheld a 1994 ruling by the Okinawa District Court that awarded 870 million yen in damages to 768 residents. The latest ruling raised the compensation amount to 1.37 billion yen and the number of affected residents to 867. The article notes that the ruling translates into payments of 2,000 yen to 18,000 yen per month for affected households. The compensation was figured by paying residents who experienced noise above 75 decibels, the noise-tolerance level set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. The decibel standard used for compensation in the 1994 ruling was 80 decibels, the article says. A total of 906 residents had demanded a ban on night flights, compensation for noise-related suffering, and advance payments for future damages.
The article goes on to say that the court agreed that residents had suffered psychological damage, but rejected the claim that the noise had caused physical damage to their hearing. Residents submitted a medical survey, commissioned by the prefectural government, which concluded that many residents living near the base were suffering hearing loss as a direct result of the night flights. But lawyers for the government said the survey was "untrustworthy." Norio Ikemiyagi, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said, "We extremely regret the fact that the medical survey was ignored. However, we are happy that the acceptable noise level was lowered to 75." The court also ruled that placing a ban on night flights is out of the court's jurisdiction, and must be settled by the government.
The article explains that the Kadena Air Base, the largest U.S. Air Force base in East Asia, is located between the city of Okinawa and the towns of Kadena and Chatan. The base houses F-15 supersonic fighters, and refueling and anti-submarine aircraft. The U.S. military has said that night flights are necessary for pilot training. Japanese and U.S. officials signed an agreement two years ago to restrict flights, the article says. But residents have said that jet noise at night has increased since that time.
PUBLICATION: The San Francisco Chronicle
DATE: May 23, 1998
SECTION: News; Pg. A17
BYLINE: Charlie Goodyear
DATELINE: Walnut Creek, California
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Gus Buttacavoli, resident
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Gus Buttacavoli, a resident of Walnut Creek, California, has complained about the noise from ambulance sirens. An ambulance station is located down the street from Buttacavoli's apartment, the article explains. In response to his complaints, ambulance drivers have started waiting to turn on their sirens, but some officials express exasperation at Buttacavoli's complaints.
The article reports that Buttacavoli said the sirens disturb his daily prayer and meditation. He said, "There is so much ambulance noise all day long that I actually started wearing earplugs. This city seems utterly oblivious to the impact noise has on life and living." Buttacavoli also said that only 5% of the 911 calls that dispatch an ambulance are actually emergencies. He said, "That means that 95 percent of the time we're being bothered unnecessarily." The article explains that Buttacavoli also criticizes early morning leaf blowers, and other non-noise nuisances in the area.
According to the article, Linda Tiller, the vice president of American Medical Response in the Bay Area, said noise complaints are common, but Buttacavoli is taking his complaints to the extreme. She said, "He obviously has a sensitivity to noise. But he doesn't want us to turn the siren on ever." The ambulance crews in Buttacavoli's neighborhood already have been told to reduce siren noise when they can. Tiller said, "Our crews don't turn the siren on until they get to the intersection of Mount Diablo Road." But, she added, the sirens are necessary to protect ambulance crews, the public, and most of all, patients. Tiller said she's thinking of inviting Buttacavoli to ride along in an ambulance on a busy day to show him that many of the ambulance calls are valid.
But, the article explains, the problem may be solved when American Medical Response, which has an exclusive contract for ambulance services in Walnut Creek and the surrounding area, moves its ambulance station away from Buttacavoli's apartment this summer. But, Tiller said, the company still will need to ensure adequate ambulance coverage for the city, which could mean locating another ambulance station to cover southern Walnut Creek and communities along Highway 24.
PUBLICATION: Asheville Citizen-Times (Asheville, NC)
DATE: May 22, 1998
SECTION: Local; Pg. A1
BYLINE: Phil Alexander
DATELINE: Asheville, North Carolina
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Donna Flores, Paula Lindsey, residents
The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that the owner of the Asheville Motor Speedway in Asheville, North Carolina has decided to limit noise from race-cars to 90 decibels, starting this week. The article notes that 90 decibels is between noise level of a common vacuum cleaner and a circular saw.
The article reports that Roger Gregg, the track's owner, said he decided to implement the rule change voluntarily, but that the track already was in compliance with the city's noise ordinance. The noise ordinance requires race-cars on tracks to muffle their engines to one-half the noise level they would be if they were running "straight-pipe," or without a muffler. According to the article, Tom Aardema, an Asheville Police Captain, said he called on Gregg last week because he was recently promoted to commander of the department's 145-member patrol division, and he wanted to get to know the owner and learn how the track operates. Aardema said during his visit, Gregg showed him a written notice to drivers about the new noise rule. The notice said that drivers will have to have their cars checked, and drivers whose cars exceed the limit will have one week to correct the problem or they will not be allowed to race until they do so. Gregg added, however, that he will work with the drivers because they may have trouble getting the mufflers installed on short notice. Officer Aardema said the city didn't pressure Gregg to implement the changes. He added that police get two or three complaints per year about the noise from the racetrack.
The article goes on to say that residents of Pisgah View Apartments, a public housing community near the track, said they're happy about the changes. Resident Donna Flores said she hates summer Friday nights. She said, "You have to turn your radio loud, you have to close your windows, you have to close your doors. I've lived here five (years), and I haven't dealt with it. It annoys the hell out of me." Resident Paula Lindsey said she's learned to deal with the noise, but she's happy about the new rule.
Meanwhile, drivers said the new rule was costing them a lot of money. Roy Chatham, a former racer and now a crew chief, said, "You don't do this in no week. We've changed three sets of mufflers in a week, and we still don't know that we're close. I've done spent over $700 just on mufflers." Racer Matt Gibson said he had already spent $90 on muffler changes, when track officials told him he'd have to change again. Tom Young, a super stock car owner, said the racetrack was there before residents were, and noise is a part of racing. Young said, "That's why people go to the races rather than watch them on TV. They want to smell the rubber. They want to see the cars in person. They want to hear that noise. It's just a feeling you get."
PUBLICATION: News Tribune
DATE: May 22, 1998
SECTION: Local/State; Pg. B2
BYLINE: Debbie Cafazzo
DATELINE: Seattle, Washington
The News Tribune reports that officials at the Port of Seattle (Washington), which operates Sea-Tac Airport, offered Thursday to pay $350,000 for a study to determine the jet noise impacts on Highline School District schools.
The article explains that the school district launched its own study of noise impacts earlier this year, funded by the school district and the state. The new offer from the Port, however, would cover the cost of that study. The agreement proposed by the Port outlines specific noise measurements that would be conducted in 15 schools, and commits the Port to pay for that work. Gina Marie Lindsey, the airport director, said, "Aircraft noise in those schools is our responsibility, and minimizing noise impacts in area schools is our top priority. We hope this agreement will lay the groundwork for a comprehensive solution to the noise problems in Highline schools."
PUBLICATION: The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA)
DATE: May 22, 1998
SECTION: Local; Pg. B01
BYLINE: Michael McBride
DATELINE: Norco, California
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Bill Huber, Dorothy Daniels, residents
The Press-Enterprise reports that residents in Norco, California told the City Council Wednesday that they want relief from the noise, dust, and traffic problems caused by an earth-moving and removal operation at the western base of Beacon Hill. The operation is ostensibly attended to be a prelude to a large development, but some residents and city officials believe it has become a mining operation.
According to the article, Brian Oulman, Norco's economic development manager, said the developer, Roger Krause, wants to build a hotel, restaurant, and senior apartments on the site. Krause is scheduled to discuss concepts for potential development with the city's Economic Development Advisory Council today.
The article goes on to say that Joe Schenk, the Public Works Director, said the developer has a grading permit to prepare the area for commercial development. In the opinion of former Norco City Manager Simon Melendez, the site has become an illegal commercial rock quarry and should be shut down immediately. Melendez said, "If they [city officials] don't shut it down and comply with the law, legal action may be taken to require compliance with the law." Meanwhile, City Attorney John Harper said he would research the city's zoning ordinance. The current City Manager, Jerry Johnson, said that workers at the site had "over-excavated." Johnson agreed that the residents had "lots of legitimate concerns," and said he would propose measures to mitigate the impacts.
The article explains that resident Bill Huber said work at the site has started as early as 5:30 a.m. He added, "It's obvious they've got a large mining operation." Another resident, Dorothy Daniels, said her son had eye problems because of the dust generated by the operation. She said she has called City Hall five times and written a detailed letter outlining her concerns, but has received no replies.
Johnson, the City Manager, said the amount of material taken from the site so far is less than the grading permit allows. He said some of the work was done in order to bury several large rocks and to provide room for putting utilities under the development. But, Johnson said, the permit stipulates that work can't begin before 7 a.m. In addition, Johnson said he would ask the developer to provide better on-site dust control, and to use Fifth Street rather than Norco Drive to get to the site. The article notes that if the work at the site continues at the same pace as in the past, it should be finished in another year, according to Johnson.
PUBLICATION: Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV)
DATE: May 21, 1998
SECTION: B; Pg. 4B
BYLINE: Steve Friess
DATELINE: Clark County, Nevada
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the Clark County (Nevada) Commission on Wednesday postponed a decision about whether to adopt new noise guidelines for homes and businesses near McCarran International Airport. The guidelines would adopt a new map that shows noise levels around the airport. Many of the residents and merchants that live in the proposed 60-decibel zone are angry at the proposal, believing it would lower their property values.
According to the article, commissioners delayed action until September 16 in order to survey residents in the near the airport on whether they would want to sell their homes to the county, or have the county pay for sound insulation. Commissioner Erin Kenny, who made the motion to delay action, said, "This is not to say we will or won't do any of that. We just wanted more information on what the residents in the area want. Then we can see how much it might cost and what we can do."
But according to Jacob Snow, the Assistant Aviation Director, that matter has little to do with the ordinance that would create a new map showing noise levels around the airport. The current map, passed in 1990, shows noise zones as low as 65 decibels, but the new map would include a new zone showing 60-decibel noise levels. The commission would require new homes or businesses built in the 60-decibel zone to be built with extra materials that would insulate at least 25 decibels of noise. In addition, the new owners would have to disclose to prospective buyers that they live in the noise zone.
The article says that idea has angered many of the property owners who already live in the 60-decibel zone, because they fear state law would obligate them to disclose the same information to buyers. In fact, an earlier version of the proposed county ordinance required present owners to disclose the noise zone information, but Snow of the airport removed that requirement to pacify residents. The compromise apparently did not work, the article reports, because at Wednesday's meeting, speaker after speaker criticized the proposal, saying it will lower property values. Mostly, however, residents vented their frustration at the airport noise by asking commissioners to do something.
The article also notes that the proposed ordinance also would affect about 9,000 property owners in 60-decibel zone around Nellis Air Force Base, but none of those residents have opposed the plan.
PUBLICATION: The Dallas Morning News
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: News; Pg. 1A
BYLINE: Rani Cher Monson
DATELINE: Arlington, Texas
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Kent Kirmser, resident
The Dallas Morning News reports that residents in Arlington, Texas complained about excessive noise and obscenity during the first paid concert Sunday at the ballpark in the Arlington amphitheater. The event featured 10 bands, drew almost 30,000 fans, and produced music that could be heard up to three miles away. The article says that some residents asked City Council members at a Tuesday meeting to not allow such events at the amphitheater again.
The article says that Police Chief David Kunkle gave a detailed report on the concert to City Councilors on Tuesday. Kunkle said the event went off "without a hitch," despite the fact that four noise complaints were made. Eleven citations were issues, but problems were minimal, he said. Meanwhile, City Manager George Campbell said the city was looking into how it issues outdoor permits, and an upcoming report could result in a change in the city's policy. The City Council also discussed other noise and safety matters, the article says. Councilor Barbara Nash said, "It was puzzling to me that we live so far from the ballpark, but we could still hear it outside." Other councilors discussed whether the "most pit" dancing area would pose a liability for the city.
The residents at Tuesday's meeting were adamantly opposed to the concert, the article reports. Resident Kent Kirmser said, "I'm here to speak very strongly against any more concerts at the ballpark. The noise volume was very high, and the language was very, very bad. This was an abuse to citizens who lived in our area." Another resident, George Johnson, said the language at the concert was unacceptable. Johnson said, "The language was very offensive -- it was sexually explicit and was put out over a loud speaker." Police Chief Kunkle said the use of profanity was not illegal, but he sympathizes with residents. He said, "It may be preferable to have no live music events at the amphitheater." Kunkle also said his department would have issued citations to the concert producer if noise exceeded 85 decibels anywhere in the city, but that never happened. State law has established the 85-decibel limit, and Dottie Lynn, the Mayor Pro Tem, asked if the city could look at lowering that rate within the city.
Meanwhile, Tom Schieffer, the Texas Rangers President, said he attended portions of the event, and that he agrees future events should be more family-oriented. He said, "We certainly proved we can have a successful concert here, but we need to be more careful. Some of the language was not consistent with the type of entertainment we're trying to provide. People have a right to be offended, and we're trying to take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again." Schieffer said bands performing at the ballpark in the future would be investigated before they take the stage. He added that the amphitheater could become one of the largest in North Texas for events. About 35,000 people could be drawn to events in the future, he said, compared to the Coca-Cola Starplex in Dallas that holds only 20,000.
PUBLICATION: The Orange County Register
DATE: May 19, 1998
SECTION: Metro; Pg. B01
BYLINE: Keith Sharon
DATELINE: Orange County, California
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Gary Evans, professor, Cornell University; Chrystal Kochendorfer, board of trustees president, Capistrano Unified School District
The Orange County Register reports that Gary Evans, a professor at Cornell University, spoke to the Capistrano Unified School District board of trustees and the Orange County Acoustical Society in Orange County, California on Monday night on the topic of whether an international airport at the El Toro Air Station would create problems for kids exposed to jet noise. Evans said that chronic exposure to noise can lead to lower reading scores and hypertension among schoolchildren, but he added that there's no evidence yet that an El Toro airport would force kids to endure chronic noise exposure. The article notes that the school district opposes an airport.
According to the article, Evans' past three studies in New York and Munich, Germany, have found that schoolchildren living and attending school near airports in those cities suffered higher blood pressure, less concentration, motivational problems, and more stress. Children who have reading problems, the elderly, and people with hypertension are most susceptible to noise problems, Evans said. According to Vince Mestre, an acoustical engineer hired by the county, Evans' studies focused on schools that had much higher noise levels than even the noisiest proposal for El Toro.
PUBLICATION: The Dayton Daily News
DATE: May 21, 1998
SECTION: Neighbors, Pg. Z8-1
BYLINE: William Schmidt
DATELINE: New Lebanon, Ohio
The Dayton Daily News reports that police in New Lebanon, Ohio have instituted a strict campaign to reduce loud car stereo noise, after receiving numerous resident complaints on the issue. The article notes that New Lebanon already has an ordinance that prohibits the use of car stereos that disrupt the comfort and peace of residents.
According to the article, Police Chief Ron Carbaugh said, "The enforcement campaign is continuing until the problem is significantly reduced." In the first seven weeks of the campaign, police issued 16 citations, the article notes. As part of the effort, Carbaugh visited Dixie High School and asked for voluntary compliance and cooperation. He said the visit produced some positive results because most of the people subsequently cited were over the age of 18.
The article also reports that police previously undertook a similar effort that relied on "stepped enforcement," where offenses were met with increasingly serious responses, but police found that the method didn't solve the problem.
PUBLICATION: Agence France Presse
DATE: May 22, 1998
SECTION: International News; Japan-US-military
DATELINE: Tokyo, Japan
Agence France Presse reports an Okinawa, Japan, court ordered the Japanese government to award monetary compensation to citizens who suffer from aircraft noise.
According to the article, a court in Okinawa ordered Japan's government Friday to pay 10 million dollars to 900 islanders in compensation for distress due to aircraft noise from the biggest US airbase in Asia. But the court denied the islanders' request that the state government ban night flights at the Kadena US air force base. The base is located on the main island of the Okinawan chain, a strategic US foothold in the East China Sea. The high court said that the Japanese government had "no authority to limit operations or activities" at the US airbase under a 1960 bilateral security pact.
The article goes on to state that the court's decision did not help appease bitterness among Okinawans, who have lived with a large US military presence since the return of their islands to Japan in 1972, following a post-World War II occupation. "What we wish is to regain a silent night without night flights," Toshio Ikemiyagi, the chief attorney for the plaintiffs said. The residents had demanded a halt to flights between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. It was not clear if that verdict would be appealed in the nation's supreme court. Apparently, similar damage suits, filed by residents around US bases in and around Tokyo, have also failed to invoke a ban on night flights. Residents around Yokota US air force base in Tokyo's western suburbs have decided to sue the US government to seek such a ban.
According to the article, in the Okinawa damages suit, 907 islanders sought compensation for health hazards caused by noise both now and in the future. But presiding judge Norikazu Iwatani rejected as unobjective the assertion that the islanders suffered from "health problems", including hearing difficulties and headaches, due to the noise. The state government insisted that noise remained within levels permissible for daily life. Instead, the judge acknowledged that the plaintiffs had "sustained mental damage as their rights have been infringed by aircraft noise and vibrations caused by aircraft." The verdict will bring a total of 1.37 billion yen in damages to 867 of the plaintiffs with each of them receiving sums in proportion to the degree of suffering.
The article stated the Okinawa lawsuit originated in 1982 and was combined with a campaign by landowners against the leasing of land to US forces. Okinawa accounts for 0.6 percent of Japan's total land. Yet it hosts three quarters of US military facilities in the country and 27,000 of the 47,000 US troops in Japan.
PUBLICATION: The Denver Post
DATE: May 21, 1998
SECTION: Denver & The West; Pg. B-06
BYLINE: Mike Mcphee
DATELINE: Denver, Colorado
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Jack Houser, president of Downtown Denver Residents' Organization
The Denver Post reports residents of Denver, Colorado's, Lower Downtown are complaining about motorcycle noise, and the city is listening.
According to the article, residents of Lower Downtown are tolerant of such city scourges as baseball fans, bar crowds and dog droppings on the sidewalks. But noisy motorcycles have pushed them to the edge. Their complaints have prompted Denver police this weekend to "inform" motorcyclists in LoDo about the city's noise ordinances, said District Six police Lt. Mike Battista. Police will focus on the "cafe" crowd that congregates each evening in front of The Market in Larimer Square as wells as the numerous sports bars.
The article goes on to report that as the weather turns warmer, complaints of excessive noise have been inundating Denver City Councilwoman Debbie Ortega's office. "Every time I go to a community meeting, this issue brings more and more complaints," she said. "We've all struggled for solutions to this problem. So now we're bringing the police down, mainly to discourage the revving up of engines - not just bikes but cars, too. We have nothing against motorcycles. I love to ride them. We're concerned about the really loud ones," Ortega said.
The article reports a citizens' group agrees with Ortega. The Downtown Denver Residents' Organization has launched a campaign to discourage the loudest of bikes. "We don't have a quarrel with motorcyclists in general because there are many motorcycles as quiet as a car," said Jack Houser, the group's president. "Our complaint is with those motorcyclists who have modified their exhaust systems to the point where the sound can wake us at 1 a.m. from a sound sleep on the 17th floor with the windows closed or can trigger car security alarms merely by passing by." The city's noise ordinance allows a vehicle - car or bike - to emit 80 decibels of sound measured from 25 feet away. The best example the city gives is that a busy intersection registers about 75 decibels from just a few feet away. Ed Kiely, manager of community noise for the city's Department of Environmental Health, said he doesn't know exactly how loud the loudest motorcycles are. "We plan to measure it this summer, but I don't know when," he said.
The article reports that Lt. Battista said the police will probably not bring testing equipment with them this weekend. They will be able to judge for themselves, and give marginally noisy bikes the benefit of the doubt, he said. Police will be checking for baffles or the bare minimum of noise abatement equipment on the bikes by placing their nightsticks in the exhaust pipes. He warned that the nightsticks should meet "some kind of resistance," otherwise the owner could be ticketed. A letter to motorcyclists from Ortega, Houser and police District Six Cmdr. Jerry Whitman said, "Our goal is to remind motorcycle enthusiasts that, while Downtown is full of bars, restaurants and entertainment, it also is a neighborhood. Like any neighborhood, the residents want their standards for peace and quiet respected. Your sensitivity to this issue will be greatly appreciated."
PUBLICATION: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, MO)
DATE: May 21, 1998
SECTION: West Post, Pg. 1
BYLINE: Phil Sutin
DATELINE: Creve Coeur, Missouri
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Creve Coeur, Missouri, Planning and Zoning Commission rejected the expansion plan of the Ranken Jordan Children's Rehabilitation Center. Citizens' objections ranged from the center's plan to use aluminum siding to concerns about noise.
According to the article, The Ranken Jordan Center, which rehabilitates children ages 2 to 16, wants to add 14,000 square feet to its facility on Ladue Road west of Lindbergh Boulevard. The expansion would mainly be on the east and west ends of its building. The facility was built in 1940, nine years before Creve Coeur incorporated. It is a nonconforming use in an area zoned residential. The expansion would not enlarge the center's capacity of 28 children but give the staff more working space.
The article states that several nearby residents objected to the Center's plan to put a play area in front of the building. The residents noted that they put the play areas behind their houses. The new play area would add noise to the neighborhood, they said. John King, attorney for the Center, said the facility would try to preserve large trees during construction and install mature trees to screen the building. But the key issue was the center's plan to use metal siding for the exterior of the addition. Attorney King cited the cost savings of the metal siding "that could be put into the care of children." However, Laura Bryant said that Creve Coeur required churches and schools in residential areas to build brick exteriors. She said that she did not see any reason to make an exception for Ranken Jordan.
PUBLICATION: The Atlanta Journal (Atlanta, GA)
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: Gwinnett Extra; Pg. 04Jj
BYLINE: Stacy Shelton
DATELINE: Gwinnett County, Georgia
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Jay Halpern, business owner
The Atlanta Journal reports that despite outraged neighbors, planning commissioners in Gwinnett County, Georgia, approved the building of a metal recycler.
According to the article, Newell Recycling of Atlanta Inc. wants to build a 45-foot-tall shredder in the Northeast Atlanta Industrial Park near Mechanicsville. The Municipal Gwinnett County Planning Commission voted 6-0 to approve the rezoning and special-use permit requests. The Board of Commissioners is expected to make a final decision May 26. Tony Powell, a Lawrenceville attorney representing the company, said the 23-acre site is the best place for the plant because it is near concrete and metal manufacturers, and is in the middle of "Gwinnett's most intense industrial development," he said.
The article reports nearby homeowners and business owners disagree. They say the "huge shredder" that would be built on Buford Highway near DeKalb County will increase traffic and noise and create an eyesore. The company estimates 150 to 200 trucks a day will pull into the plant to drop off junk cars, old appliances and demolition scrap. Jay Halpern, who owns an import distribution business on nearby Amwiler Road, said he chose his location because it is zoned for light industry, not the heavy industrial use required for metal recycling. "Would you want your office next to a junk yard or a scrap yard?" Halpern asked the panel.
The article states that Powell called the plant a $13 million state-of-the-art facility that processes metal rather than stockpiling it. After the metal is shredded using water to dampen noise and dust, the scrap will be hauled away on train cars from an adjacent Southern Railroad line. Opponents expressed mistrust of both Powell's descriptions and the county's willingness to enforce conditions that include a 6-foot-tall fence that would act as a sound barrier. Planning commissioners limited the plant's hours of operation to three weekdays between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.
PUBLICATION: Chicago Daily Herald
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: News; Pg. 1
BYLINE: Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah
DATELINE: Chicago, Illinois
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Joseph McKie, resident
The Chicago Daily Herald reports semi-tractor trailers parked in the back of a Motel 6 in Villa Park, Chicago, are causing nearby residents to lose sleep.
According to the article, residents living directly behind the Roosevelt Road motel say the problem is that the semis are kept running overnight because they have refrigeration units. The engine starts up for 10 to 15 minutes then shuts off for 20 minutes and then revs up again. "We thought it was our dream condo," said Joseph McKie, who lives in the newly built Willow Pointe Condominiums. "Our dream has turned into a nightmare." These residents are the most affected by the noise because their windows face the back of Motel 6's parking lot where the semis are parked. Residents say they have up to six sleepless nights a week. "This is not good publicity for us," said Bill Ranieri, one of the developers of Willow Pointe. "It's a wonderful building and we're working hard to get this fixed so people can enjoy their property."
The article reports residents say they have called police but have seen no results. Officers who responded didn't think the noise from the ground level was excessive, said Villa Park Police Chief Ronald Ohlson. McKie and other residents say they have been complaining to police and the village for the past four months about the problem. "It's a time consuming project, and we're carrying it out as best as we can," Community Development Director Bill Wiet said. He says the village has visited the site at least six times. On Monday Wiet gave McKie a sound meter to monitor the noise level of the semis. If the meter records high levels of noise, that evidence can be taken to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Wiet said.
The article goes on to state that currently, none of the village ordinances specifically address this noise issue. Eventually, the village needs to make amendments to the ordinances to address these concerns, Wiet said. In the meantime, the village is looking at alternative places to park the semis. Wiet has written to Motel 6's corporate office asking it to intercede. Residents say the motel could use parking space it owns on the south end near Roosevelt Road. That way, the motel could act as a buffer. Gordon Evans, the regional vice president of Motel 6, isn't sure whether that's possible. "If there's a solution to it, we're more than willing to listen," he said. "But on the same token, we can't be selective of the customers coming in our front door."
PUBLICATION: The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: Neighborhoods Pg.01n
BYLINE: Steve Chaplin
DATELINE: St. Matthews, Kentucky
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Denise Hawkins, co-president of Windhurst Acres Neighborhood Association
The Courier-Journal reports the St. Matthews City Council last week joined residents in an effort to persuade the state to add noise barriers to a new interchange at Westport Road and the Watterson Expressway.
According to the article, residents in Windhurst Acres subdivision are concerned about the widening of Westport Road to five lanes and the interchange. Members of the Windhurst Acres Neighborhood Association last week attended a council meeting to push for a concrete barrier to buffer sound in addition to the visual screening already proposed. Similar barriers exist along parts of the Watterson, and Windhurst residents want the same for their neighborhood. "Our primary concern is to maintain our quality of life," Denise Hawkins, co-president of the Windhurst group, told council members. "We'd like your support in backing us to get a sound barrier."
The article reported that Mayor Art Draut said he was impressed that the neighborhood association has members in nearly 30 percent of the 156 homes in Windhurst. Draut proposed the city write a letter of support to the state Transportation Cabinet which council members unanimously approved.
The article goes on to say the neighborhood group has persuaded state highway officials to review a 1994 analysis that proposed an 8-foot wooden fence to screen the interchange from view. It will be sometime next month before the state's reassessment of the 1994 noise and environmental analysis is complete. Residents hope the new study, which will look at how much traffic and noise will increase during the next 20 years, will provide support for a noise barrier. Windhurst Acres residents also expressed concerns about possible development at the interchange. "We don't want to see a truck stop or anything like that go in there," Hawkins said. Windhurst is located north of Westport Road and east of the Watterson.
PUBLICATION: The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, MO)
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: Zone/Olathe; Pg. 38
BYLINE: Stephen Winn
DATELINE: Olathe, Kansas
The Kansas City Star published an editorial about city officials response to problems plaguing Kansas' Olathe Station. It is the editor's opinion that stronger rules for development are needed to prevent future difficulties with noise and lighting between commercial and residential districts.
According to the editorial, it is a good thing that acting City Manager Susan Sherman is moving aggressively to deal with residents' complaints about noise, lighting and maintenance at the Olathe Station development. And in the editor's opinion, even more important, is that city officials are taking some of the Olathe Station problems into account in revising the city's development rules. "In the Olathe Station case, it is encouraging to hear that the developers are willing to work with nearby residents, who have some understandable concerns," according to the editorial.
The editorial goes on to say cooperation with the residents would make a great deal of sense for the developers. Currently, city officials are considering a rezoning request that would allow more outdoor speakers, neon signs and other new features. In the editor's opinion, some of the residents' immediate concerns shouldn't be too hard to address. However, "Debates over noise and lighting, on the other hand, may be more difficult to resolve, given the short distance between the Olathe Station buildings and some homes in the Foxridge subdivision." Some people believe that prospective homeowners need to keep in mind the possibility of nearby commercial development in the future. But homebuyers can't anticipate every possibility in a particular neighborhood.
The editorial concludes that the residents of a city have to rely on local government officials to make sure that reasonable development standards are in place. The opinion expressed is that effective buffer zones between commercial and residential areas are critical. And the city's recent effort to improve its development standards could help prevent future difficulties.
PUBLICATION: Los Angeles Times
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: Metro; Part B; Page 4; Metro Desk
DATELINE: Los Angeles, California
The Los Angeles Times reports that as part of the soundproofing program for residents, being undertaken by Los Angeles International Airport, another contract was awarded today. It was the fourth contract awarded that will be part of the program's second stage.
According to the article, the second phase follows closely on the heels of the first, which provided 126 apartments in housing complexes with noise mitigation from special windows, dense doors, and insulated attics. The most recent contract will add 137 more homes to that list in the coming months. The program in its entirety has designated almost 9,000 homes as eligible for soundproofing.
PUBLICATION: World-Heraldwriter (Omaha, NE)
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: News; Pg. 19
BYLINE: Robert Dorr
DATELINE: Plattsmouth, Nebraska
The World-Heraldwriter of Omaha, Nebraska, reports plans are moving forward for Omaha's second major open-air amphitheater after the county board reduced restrictions despite residents' noise concerns. The new facility will test the Omaha area's ability to support large open-air entertainment events.
According to the article, the Cass County Board voted 3-0 to reduce restrictions that Chip Davis had said harmed his ability to earn a profit and threatened his willingness to move ahead with the project. The outdoor amphitheater that Davis plans to build in Cass County should now be open by the summer of 2000. The Davis project will be situated midway between Omaha and Lincoln. It will be the second major open-air amphitheater in the area. The first was Westfair, near Council Bluffs, which opened last year. Davis hopes to attract enough musical groups to conduct 20 to 40 concerts a year at the Aire Plex amphitheater. "People traveling on the Interstate from Chicago to Denver may stop and go to a concert," Davis said. "We think it's going to add to this area's economic base." The planned amphitheater, located off Interstate 80 at the Mahoney State Park interchange, also will include a restaurant and children's camp facilities, Davis said.
The article reports the unanimous approval by the county board overrode protests from Quarry Oaks golf course officials and several nearby residents, who said the sound and traffic from rock groups would overwhelm a quiet, rural area. Quarry Oaks attorney Jim Hewitt of Lincoln predicted that the golf course would lose $14,000 in business every afternoon that Davis has a concert. The noise and traffic will drive golfers away, Hewitt said. Cass County Board Chairman Hilton Rogers of Alvo countered the golf course's concerns by stating that the nearby Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks carry a coal train every 35 minutes. "I would think you'd be concerned about that noise, " he said. Hewitt contended that the concert noise would be much worse than coal trains and would create an "incessant din."
The article reports not all nearby business owners are opposed to the amphitheater. Officials at the recently opened Strategic Air Command Museum look at the planned amphitheater as "a welcome neighbor," said Wayne Schmidt, the director. "We can have a very successful interchange," Commissioner Richard Stone said . "There's room up there for everybody." Commissioner Boyd Linder of Plattsmouth also voted to reduce the restrictions, though he said he has personal reservations. "Seventy-five to 90 percent of the people I represent favor this project," he said, "and I've got to represent my people." Some nearby residents living along the Platte River said the young people attending the concerts are likely to use drugs. Stone acknowledged that drug use will take place but said it is a problem wherever crowds gather. "We will try to control it."
The article went on to state Davis praised the board's decision, saying "we are thrilled." The project will be more than an amphitheater, Davis said. "It will be a performing arts park." An important part will be a children's summer camp and stage, Davis said. When fully developed, the performing arts park will include an indoor performance hall seating 2,500, an observatory and possibly a hotel. The full 174-acre project will cost an estimated $35 million.
According to the article, the Cass County Board originally approved the project in February but attached restrictions that, Davis said, made it virtually impossible for him to move ahead. The earlier restrictions and the changes contained in the final plan are as follows: (1) A limit on the number of concerts to 27 a year. The final plan doesn't put any limit on the number of concerts. (2) A limit on concerts that have audiences exceeding 14,000 to seven a year. Those limits have been eliminated. (3) A prohibition on concerts starting before 6 p.m. The final plan permits concerts to start as early as noon. Concerts must end by 11:30 p.m., and people attending a concert must be gone by 1 a.m. (4) A limit of 17,000 people at any concert in the amphitheater. The final plan keeps that restriction.
PUBLICATION: Orlando Sentinel Tribune
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: Local & State; Pg. D3
BYLINE: Julie Carr Smyth
DATELINE: Orlando, Florida
The Orlando Sentinel Tribune reports the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority wants to advise would-be residents of the soon-to-be-developed Naval Training Center property: Don't forget about the planes.
According to the article, spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said the GOAA staff wants to brief Orlando Partners, the developers of a new complex of houses, businesses, shops and schools, about noise the area might experience from Orlando International and Orlando Executive airports. But GOAA pulled from its Wednesday agenda an item that would have sought waivers from the developer and future residents promising not to sue because of noise. GOAA operates both Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport. This board action isn't necessary, according to airport counsel Duke Woodson, because the city already included a provision in bid documents that requires the developer to tell buyers about noise. "Really all it does is say to a potential buyer, 'You're close to an airport,' and promises not to sue the airport," Woodson said.
The article reports that Dick Shields of Orlando Partners said Tuesday he was unaware that airport noise would be an issue in the Naval Training Center area. But he said the consortium would be happy to what GOAA has to say.
The article goes on to state airport counsel Woodson said a panel of volunteers addresses noise complaints as they arise. "As an airport, we get significant complaints about noise, but we do not get lawsuits," he said. "This committee works very well with folks to resolve their problems."
PUBLICATION: Press Journal (Vero Beach, FL)
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: A Section; Pg. A6
BYLINE: Drew Dixon
DATELINE: Viera, Florida
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Lynn Stieglitz, vice president of the Friends of the St. Sebastian River
The Press Journal reports the Brevard County Commission voted Tuesday to postpone action on requests to ban airboats from the waterway despite concerns from residents about noise and other environmental issues.
According to the article, the Brevard County Commission decided to wait and see what neighboring Indian River County does with a similar proposal. The Commission voted unanimously to defer any action despite pleas to pursue a ban. Commissioner Nancy Higgs, who represents District 3 at the southern end of Brevard County, wanted the commission to pursue a ban on the airboats because of safety and environmental concerns expressed by area residents. "It seems there needs to be additional regulation," Higgs said at Tuesday night's meeting in Viera. "Because of the unique characteristics of airboats and the river, it presents problems that don't exist in other places." Several residents and environmental activists who support banning airboats on the Sebastian River spoke in favor of the measure. "This is a lot of noise, " said Lynn Stieglitz, the vice president of the Friends of the St. Sebastian River and a homeowner. "This is not an intangible issue. Birds of all kinds, alligators and people ... . When they are disturbed enough, they will leave the area." Other homeowners and activists presented similar arguments, and the commission was presented with a petition, signed by about 200 homeowners, supporting a ban on airboats.
The article reports several airboaters spoke against any proposed ban. "I don't think you have a right to ban our boats," said William Myers, a member of the Indian River Boat Association, a group that staged a demonstration against the ordinance Sunday on the river. "You take a problem with these complaints and put it on all airboats. Well, let's ban all boats in that place. If you want to ban us, ban them," Myers said. Most of the Brevard County commissioners are hesitant about banning any kind of watercraft from a public waterway. In the meantime, they will wait until Indian River County completes their hearings on a similar ordinance. "I would like to see what Indian River County does," said Commissioner Truman Scarborough. "If they pass the ordinance, I'd like to see what's going on. I'd like to piggy-back on what they're doing." Other commissioners were more skeptical of any possible ordinance that would ban a specific type of vessel. "The problem is enforcement (of boat speeds)," said Commissioner Mark Cook. "Not more laws and a knee-jerk reaction."
The article went on to report that despite voting to drop the issue until Indian River County addresses the controversy, Higgs added a provision to the motion. She asked Brevard County Attorney Scott Knox to research the possibility of regulating larger airboats, claiming those providing commercial tours cause the most noise on the river.
PUBLICATION: The San Diego Union-Tribune
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: Local Pg. B-1:2,3,4,5,7,8; B-3:1,6
BYLINE: Kathryn Balint
DATELINE: San Diego, California
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Jerry Hargarten, president of Move Against Relocating Choppers Here; Richard Hertzberg, member of MARCH
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports a plan to quiet helicopters and jets flying out of Miramar Marine Corps Air Station was unveiled yesterday by the Marine Corps and San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Warden's committee of residents. But people who sued last year to stop the Marines from bringing helicopters to Miramar say that there's nothing new about the plan and that it won't reduce noise.
According to the article. the Marines, committee members, and Warden agreed that the plan will make the Marines better neighbors. The plan announced yesterday calls for eight changes in the way Marines fly their aircraft. The Marines have already been flying jets out of Miramar for a few years. But it's the Marines' noisy helicopters, which are scheduled to arrive in September, that have many residents worried. When the Marines have fully moved into Miramar, they will have 170,000 operations -- takeoffs and landings -- each year.
The article reports that changes that can be implemented by the Marines without further approval include: (1) Marine helicopters must fly between 3,000 and 3,500 feet above sea level over Interstate 15 in North County instead of flying between 2,000 and 2,500 feet. (2) Marine helicopters must stay at least a mile offshore instead of half a mile offshore. That is intended to reduce the amount of noise for people living along the coast from Del Mar to Oceanside. (3) The route over Torrey Pines Mesa and out to the ocean has been designated as the preferred route to Camp Pendleton instead of the route over I-15. (4) Jets are prohibited from using their afterburners -- a loud revving of the engine -- after they leave Miramar. That is expected to reduce noise for residents of Scripps Ranch, Fairbanks Ranch and Rancho Penasquitos. (5) The route to Julian has been slightly adjusted, and aircraft flying it must remain 6,000 feet above sea level, instead of 3,000 feet. That adjustment is to reduce noise for Rancho Penasquitos and Mira Mesa residents. Three other points in the plan that are endorsed by the Marine Corps require Federal Aviation Administration approval. If approved, they would: (6) Require aircraft departing Miramar to fly at a higher altitude when heading over Torrey Pines Mesa and out to the ocean. (7) Prohibit aircraft from flying as low as 500 feet over I-15. (8) Add a new flight pattern for aircraft arriving from Yuma. The new arrival pattern would reduce noise in Scripps Ranch by putting the aircraft directly over Miramar instead of populated areas.
The article goes on to report that Warden, who wants to keep Miramar as a military base because she fears that it would otherwise be turned into a commercial airport, said it was inevitable that the Marines and their helicopters would be moved to Miramar. She said she was surprised that her committee of residents -- called the Miramar Technical Advisory Committee -- made so much progress in persuading the Marines to adjust flight patterns to reduce noise from choppers. "If you're sitting in your home, and a helicopter comes over at 500 feet, that's almost like having it in your living room," Warden said. "When they get up to 2,000 feet, there's barely a sound."
According to the article, Jerry Hargarten, president of a coalition called Move Against Relocating Choppers Here, said the Marines had agreed to do all eight points in the plan almost two years ago. Furthermore, he said, some of the points address only jet noise, not helicopter noise. He also said the plan does not address one of his biggest concerns about noise: training exercises. "This press conference is not news," he said. "I call it a nonevent because virtually every one of these eight items was on the table in the fall of 1996. And they are really inadequate. They don't solve the safety and noise problems by any means. Not by a long shot." Hargarten said the Marines' 8,000 helicopter training exercises done each year will fly directly over 150,000 people living in Mira Mesa, Rancho Penasquitos, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Poway and Scripps Ranch. "The plan doesn't even talk about that," he said. Hargarten, the MARCH coalition, coalition member Richard Hertzberg, and the city of Del Mar sued to stop the helicopters. They lost their first legal round last year when a federal judge refused to grant an injunction to stop construction. Hargarten said that four months of settlement talks failed and that the case is moving toward a trial.
PUBLICATION: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Sarasota, FL)
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: Local/State, Pg. 1B
BYLINE: Dale White
DATELINE: Manatee County, Florida
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Lari Ann Harris, commissioner
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports the Manatee County Commission will sue a nightclub to force it to lower the noise level after residents lodged complaints.
According to the article, the OuterLimits bar makes so much late-night noise that it's a "public nuisance." The Manatee County commissioners unanimously decided Tuesday to ask the courts to force the club to lower the volume. After hearing complaints from several residents and consulting their attorney, the commissioners told the owner of the OuterLimits that the county will file a lawsuit to compel him to quiet down his Bradenton establishment at 5520 14th St. W. "Turn the bass off," Commissioner Lari Ann Harris told OuterLimits owner Richard Kaiser. "It's that simple."
The article reports Kaiser, who opened the bar 14 months ago, tried to persuade the commissioners not to take legal action. Kaiser said he has been taking steps to lower bass levels of live and recorded music at the bar, such as limiting disc jockeys' access to controls. He is also planning to build a wall that should reduce noise heard by the Southernair Mobile Home Park and other nearby residents. "I will move faster than a lawsuit or an injunction," Kaiser said. ". . . 'Public nuisance.' This is not a title I want to have."
The article stated commissioners were unimpressed with Kaiser's pleas. "Frankly, Mr. Kaiser, it's too little, too late," Harris told him. Residents say the vibrations from the bar have caused them 14 months of sleepless nights. "They are at their wit's end," said Mark Singer, an attorney representing some of the residents. "I have to depend on sleeping pills to guarantee my sleep at night," resident Robert Ewing said. Richard Jones, a resident of Lincoln Trailer Park, said his neighborhood is experiencing the same problem. He lives just blocks away, behind 30 Something, another bar owned by Kaiser. "I tried to sound proof my bedroom," Jones said. "It doesn't work. I tried ear plugs. It doesn't work." Harris, who represents the area, said her constituents have called her at home at about 1 a.m. to complain about the bass levels. "I could hear the bass through the telephone," she told Kaiser. Harris added that she, along with deputies and code enforcement officers, have tried for months to get OuterLimits to lower the bass levels. But no change has occurred, and the residents' complaints persist, Harris said. The bar's "concert-level music" is more suited for an auditorium designed to contain the sound rather than a small bar near a residential area, Commissioner Pat Glass said.
PUBLICATION: The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA)
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: Metro; Pg. B1
BYLINE: Natalie Pompilio
DATELINE: New Orleans, Louisiana
The Times-Picayune reports residents concerned about state plans to construct 10- to 24-foot-high noise -barriers along Interstate 10 will get a final chance to be heard in two public hearings this week.
According to the article, State Department of Transportation and Development officials say sound barriers in the 11-mile I-10 corridor between the St. Charles Parish/Kenner line and Tulane Avenue in New Orleans are necessary to buffer neighborhoods from the roadway's rising decibel levels. Opponents argue that the walls are a waste of money, and would only benefit burglars looking for a hiding place and graffiti vandals looking for a new surface. But state officials contend the busiest highway in the state will become louder for nearby residents when construction of additional lanes is completed. Under current conditions, highway noise can reach 75 decibels at nearby homes, the equivalent of hearing someone scream from 3 feet away or of a vacuum cleaner or garbage disposal at close range. Once the walls are erected, the sound will be as loud as someone's speaking voice from 3 feet away.
The article goes on to report that the first phase of the estimated $24 million project will be near the I-10/610 split. In most cases, the walls will stand where the fences along the interstate are now. Heights will vary from 10 to 24 feet. The light poles along the highway in Metairie stand 38 feet high. The sound deflectors will not be adjoining. In addition to openings at on- and off-ramps, there will be open sections where engineers determined a sound wall wouldn't be cost-effective. Doors for emergency and maintenance vehicles will be included.
The article goes on to state that today and Thursday, state officials and engineers will give presentations after open houses at which residents can talk to engineers and view aerial and computer enhanced photographs showing what the sound walls will look like. Paul Waidhas, who is leading the sound wall project for engineering firm Burk-Kleinpeter, said the state Transportation Department will do its best to work with "reasonable" requests from residents. At past public hearings, sound wall critics have suggested reducing the highway's speed limit to 35 mph or banning trucks. Neither was considered reasonable. Residents also can vote on the building material for the walls. Some form of concrete is the most likely choice, Waidhas said, but concrete doesn't mean a gray wall. The material can be made to look like bricks or wood. A metal-fiberglass combination is another option, he said.
PUBLICATION: The Vancouver Sun
DATE: May 20, 1998
SECTION: News; Pg. B1 / Front
BYLINE: Larry Pynn
DATELINE: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Vancouver Sun of British Columbia, Canada, reports a new runway-improvement project at Vancouver International Airport will result in noisy jets taking off over residential areas. Some residents are anticipating a lousy summer.
According to he article, a $5-million runway-improvement project at Vancouver International Airport this summer will direct noisy jet aircraft to take off from the new third runway over residential areas. The wide range of projects means that aircraft normally using both the south and cross-wind runways will be diverted to the north runway. And that will ensure more noise for north Richmond and south Vancouver residents, who have lived with aircraft landings since the third runway opened in November 1996. Takeoffs are noisier than landings.
The article reports Larry Berg, newly appointed president of the Vancouver International Airport Authority said the repairs have been deliberately scheduled for July and August, when the weather is good and the prevailing westerly winds typically require 80 per cent of jets to take off over the water instead of over residential areas. However Berg confirmed, "There's no doubt about it, you can expect increased noise this summer." And for Bridgeport residents, located beneath the north-runway flight path in Richmond, the added flights are bad enough without 1,500 truck loads of asphalt potentially rumbling past their neighborhood. Saying the privately run airport is more accountable to the airline industry than the general public, resident Sherryl Sutherland lamented: "I'm anticipating a really crappy summer. Thank you very much."
The article goes on to report the airport projects include: around-the-clock repaving of the taxiway linking the south runway and the airport terminal; and around-the-clock installation by NavCanada of a new south-runway, instrument-landing system for aircraft approaching from the west. During off-peak hours, from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., asphalt repairs and an electrical lighting upgrade will occur at the south runway. A total of 100 aircraft takeoffs and landings will be diverted to the north runway.
PUBLICATION: The Baltimore Sun
DATE: May 19, 1998
SECTION: Local (News), Pg. 2B
BYLINE: Gerard Shields
DATELINE: Baltimore, Maryland
The Baltimore Sun reports the Baltimore City Council introduced a bill yesterday to ban the use of amplifiers in the Lexington Market area after merchants complained.
According to the article, the bill is expected to raise concerns about free speech because many of the amplifiers are used by weekend sidewalk preachers. Members of the Market Center Association complained to the council that shoppers are being chased away by the weekend cacophony. "It's a hindrance to pedestrians and consumers along Lexington Market," said Alvin Levi, an association board member and owner of Howard Street Jewelers. Levi said of the proposed bill, "It's not an attack on free speech; it's an attack on noise pollution." Merchants said that with renovations proposed for the Hippodrome Theater and the city's efforts to renovate other sections of downtown, the noise issue must be addressed. "We're looking to see more people downtown," Levi said.
The article states that the proposed ordinance, which includes a prohibition on amplified "commercial speech," is being sponsored by Councilwoman Sheila Dixon of the 4th District and Councilman Martin O'Malley of the 3rd District. Dixon agreed to co-sponsor the bill after hearing that some Mass Transit Administration riders have stopped getting off at the Lexington Market stop because of the noise problems. "Constitutionally, you can't stop people from speaking out," Dixon said. "But now it's taking away people who don't want to get off the subways." If the bill passes, violators could be fined up to $500 and be sentenced to 10 days in jail. But if approved, the law could hurt merchants such as the Beeper Center at Lexington and Park Streets, which uses amplified music to attract customers. "It would kill us," said Jamar Giddins, manager of the store. "It's just like when people hear a song they like on the radio, it draws them in." Steve Walden, a vendor in the area, said he doesn't see why the council is getting involved. "It's free speech," Walden said. "It doesn't hurt me, and I come through here every day."
PUBLICATION: The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)
DATE: May 19, 1998
SECTION: Local, Pg. 4B
BYLINE: Nancy Fischer
DATELINE: Lewiston, New York
The Buffalo News reports the Lewiston, New York, Village Board Monday publicly admonished the general manager of a local inn for its noise levels and failure to be a good neighbor.
According to the article, Mark Turgeon, general manager of the Riverside Inn on South Water Street, was reprimanded by the Village Board who said it had received phone calls saying his business and its patio bar generated too much noise. "Summer has begun early and people are questioning the noise levels. We don't like to get these calls. We want your managers to be aware of these problems. They can't be oblivious," said a member of the board. Police Chief Ronald Winkley said the police asked operators of the Riverside Inn several times to close their door to the patio because that's where the crowd noise was coming from.
The article reported that Turgeon admitted that the band that performed most recently was especially loud. "I'm trying to be a good neighbor. I asked them three times to turn it down. Believe me they won't be back," added Turgeon. Daniel Venuto, who lives across the park from the Riverside Inn, said the noise is always an issue, but becomes much more of a problem during the summer.
PUBLICATION: Los Angeles Times
DATE: May 19, 1998
SECTION: Metro; Part B; Page 1; Metro Desk
BYLINE: Shelby Grad
DATELINE: Los Angeles, California
The Los Angeles Times reports that opponents of the proposed El Toro Airport in Orange County, California are citing a new study from Germany that shows children's health is negatively affected by noise. How applicable the study is to the El Toro situation remains to be seen.
According to the article, stress hormones and blood pressure went up in children near the German airport, but noise levels there were twice as high as those that would be caused by the El Toro Airport. The county points out that the commercial jets will be about half as loud as military jets formerly used at El Toro. Noise consultants say the noise levels would be lower than the levels required to negatively impact health.
The article reports that a scientist at Cornell University, who headed the research effort, said that levels at El Toro could still cause health problems; there isn't any scientific data one way or another. Other reports have considered health problems caused by airport noise, but the German study involved data both before and after an airport opened. The researcher spoke at a meeting of education officials in Irvine, California. Air traffic at a commercial airport would be ten times that of the traffic when the site was a military base. Flights could takeoff as frequently as every few minutes.
According to the article, the county says noise levels from El Toro will be like a humming refrigerator. The researcher said while that is true, it still might cause problems for children.
PUBLICATION: Newsday (New York, NY)
DATE: May 19, 1998
SECTION: News; Page A26
BYLINE: Kara Blond
DATELINE: Islip, New York
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Deborah Slinkosky, member of the Committee for the Enforcement of MacArthur Airport Control; Mario Accumanno, committee member; Ron Falcone, committee member
Newsday reports that as the New York Town of Islip prepares to expand the terminal at Long Island MacArthur Airport, a group of residents is urging town officials to focus on the problem of airport noise.
According to the article, the citizens' group, an incarnation of a group that has been resurrected several times since the airport opened in the 1940s, feels that some curfew should be enforced at the airport and that neighbors should be consulted about changes there. The committee members and volunteers are collecting names on a petition to town officials. "We're concerned over unreasonable noise from airplanes leaving or coming into MacArthur Airport at 2:30 in the morning, 5:30 in the morning, all hours of the night," said Deborah Slinkosky, a member of the Committee for the Enforcement of MacArthur Airport Control. "It's overwhelmingly loud. The whole house shakes. It's enough to wake you out of a sound sleep."
The article reports Slinkosky and her fellow committee members, all who live near the airport, feel they were duped by a new town administration that didn't follow the previous officials' policy of requiring flights at the airport to cease from 11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. "Over the last couple of years, there have been later and later flights coming in, even during the night," said Mario Accumanno, a Holbrook resident and committee member. Islip Town Supervisor Pete McGowan said the town never imposed a curfew on the airport. "There was a noise ordinance put in some five to 10 years ago, which said that airplanes louder than a certain decibel level can't take off after 11 p.m. or before 6:30 a.m.," he said. The town is still enforcing that law, but that most planes now using the airport "are well below what the noise ordinance says they have to be," he said. McGowan said that the group's concerns were overblown. "There is not a problem."
The article states that currently, 622 U.S. airports including MacArthur are listed by the National Business Aircraft Association with noise restrictions as a requirement for flight operations, ranging from nighttime curfews to specifying decibel levels and recommending avoidance of areas with schools or residences. But residents say Islip's current noise ordinance isn't good enough. "I have the right to enjoy my own home in peace and quiet," said Ron Falcone, a committee member who lives in Holbrook, but not in the flight path of planes. "Even by offering an ordinance, the town is admitting that there is a problem." Legislator Steve Levy, who attended the committee's first meeting May 7, called the town's noise ordinance a red herring. "The thing that kept the peace before now was the town ordering the landing crews to go home at 11 p.m. so airlines couldn't schedule a landing," he said. "That was always done until a couple of years ago when the present administration changed things." Levy added that because the neighborhood feedback died out over the years, the lack of organized leadership led to relaxed standards. "The committee can be successful if they start slow and build up," he said.
According to the article, McGowan said that since "everyone jumped up in arms when USAir decided to leave," it's clear that Suffolk residents want the airport to grow. USAir ceased its flights from the airport in September, inciting outcries from those concerned that the airport would not survive. The town is responding by upgrading the terminal and providing new baggage and restaurant facilities. Slinkosky and other committee members feel they have not been kept in the loop even on those renovations. "We've been excluded so far," she said. "We're waiting for someone to pay attention to us."
PUBLICATION: The Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT)
DATE: May 18, 1998
SECTION: Town News; Pg. B1
BYLINE: Angie Chuang and Warren Woodberry Jr.; Barbara Thomas
DATELINE: Wethersfield, Connecticut
The Hartford Courant reports that while the revival of the Hartford-to-Cromwell rail line is being hailed as a boon for local businesses, some Wethersfield, Connecticut, residents say they are concerned about safety and noise.
According to the article, trains have not been a part of the scenery in Rocky Hill and Wethersfield for about 20 years. Now the Providence and Worcester Railroad Company is working with federal and state officials to rebuild 12 miles of track to start freight service in 1999. The news triggered some anxiety among Wethersfield residents who live near the lines. In a public meeting with railroad and state officials last week, many complained that the trains' return would cut into property values and cause safety hazards.
The article reports residents should not be alarmed, according to Mayor Wayne Sassano. The trains will be infrequent and slow-moving, Sassano said, not the silver bullets speeding through several times a day that fearful residents envision. "Let's just calm down, see what happens and get used to it," Sassano advised. "I'm satisfied with the information [the railroad company] gave. They came a whole year in advance of when they expect to begin running trains to talk to residents. They are going to be helpful and friendly, and they are willing to give presentations for safety programs."
The article goes on to state the light freight rail lines will run through Rocky Hill parallel to the Connecticut River. Town Manager Philip R. Dunn said he has heard no complaints from residents in his town. Dunn said he and council members are familiar with Providence and Worcester Railroad Co.'s. plans and they are confident residents will support it. Echoing Sassano's observation, Dunn said, "It won't be like the high-speed freights coming through at three in the morning with their whistles blowing." The lines will run through the industrial park. Dunn said businesses usually like to locate their warehouses along freight lines because shipping by rail is generally less expensive than shipping by truck. "I think it provides good economic opportunity for the town," he said. Wethersfield's Mayor Sassano agreed. Already, Elite Beverages, a soda bottler and distributor on the Silas Deane Highway, has indicated it would use the railroad. In fact, Elite's interest was pivotal to the railroad company's bid to revive the freight line. "I think it's great they're coming back to town," Sassano said. "If it encourages a business to relocate because of this transportation resource, that would be fortunate."
PUBLICATION: The Nelson Mail (Nelson, NZ)
DATE: May 18, 1998
SECTION: News; National; Pg. 3
BYLINE: Collett Geoff
DATELINE: Nelson, New Zealand
The Nelson Mail reports the Nelson, New Zealand, airport authority will form a committee to deal with noise issues arising from the airport.
According to the article, the new group will be modeled on the environmental consultative committee run by Port Nelson, which is seen as successful. This committee liaisons between the port company and neighboring residents to deal with problems arising from activities at the port. The noise abatement committee will have eight members and will make recommendations to the airport authority on noise -related issues, such as complaints about the noise from aircraft.
The article reports airport authority chairman Seddon Marshall said he believed the authority had done "very, very well" in dealing with noise complaints in the past. The establishment of the new committee was a response to the new environment of the Resource Management Act, under which, "you have to show that you are actively doing your best to mitigate effects," Marshall said. Initially, the airport group will meet monthly. Marshall said noise issues would be directed to the committee, which would decide how they should be dealt with and make recommendations to the authority (or the new airport company, once corporatisation was complete) for it to take action. Organizations and groups represented on the new committee would include the Airways Corporation's air traffic controllers, neighboring residents, an environmental group, airport users, Nelson City Council environment and planning staff, the airport authority and the airport manager. Nominations for public representatives will be solicited and advertised, and the authority will choose the committee members from those nominees.
PUBLICATION: Press Journal (Vero Beach, FL)
DATE: May 18, 1998
SECTION: A Section; Pg. A6
BYLINE: Michael Kaiser
DATELINE: Brevard County, Florida
The Press Journal reports the owners of airboats took guests on a "trail ride" to protest a proposed ban being considered by Florida's Indian River and Brevard counties. Airboat owners hoped to prove noise complaints were unfounded.
According to the article, at the request of waterfront property owners, both Indian River and Brevard counties are considering ordinances to prevent the operation of airboats on the Sebastian River. Hoping to prove that complaints about airboat operations on the Sebastian River are discriminatory, the owners of 13 boats took guests on a "trail ride" to protest a proposed ban. Members of the Indian River Boat Association and their guests gathered late Sunday morning at Dale Wimbrow Park on the river in Sebastian before setting off in an airboat convoy to the U.S. 1 bridge and back. "It probably won't do any good, but at least we'll have said our peace," said club member Sharon Anderson. "It's not fair."
The article reports Indian River County will hold a public hearing on its ordinance to prevent the operation of airboats on the river June 2. The Brevard County Commission will discuss the issue at its meeting in Viera on Tuesday. Critics say the boats are excessively loud and endanger the environment and area wildlife, such as manatees. The complaints are targeted mainly at a business called Wilderness Airboat Tours, which uses a 35-foot airboat to offer cruises up the river. Private airboaters rarely use the river because of speed restrictions. They operate mostly in swamp and marsh on the west side of the county, boat association members said Sunday. But while they don't exercise it often, they don't want to lose their right to use the river because of a "discriminatory" measure. "We do most of our running in the marsh, but we have the same rights as the rest of the boaters," said club secretary Bill Myers. "They can't take that away." Some boat owners deplored government regulations on private recreation, saying airboats may be only the first step in a wider ban. "I can't see outlawing a certain type of boat from a public waterway," said Sam DeMario. "If they can outlaw us here they can outlaw us where we operate. What's next? Jet boats? Bass boats?" What's at issue is not just a hobby but a way of life, club members said. "You probably get to see the prettiest parts of Florida in one of these," Vera Anne DeMario said. "We've got three or four generations out here, and now the kids can't grow up like we did," Anderson said. "If every family had an airboat there'd be a lot less drug problems."
The article went on to report Myers brought a decibel meter to the gathering to test whether the boats really create too much noise. To set the threshold, he cited a statute that prevents any type of equipment from generating more than 90 decibels at a distance of 50 feet. When operating at legal speeds, none of the boats exceeded that level, he said. "You can exceed it very easily with an airboat; you can also exceed it with a Mack diesel," Myers said. "If you're doing the speed limit you don't have any problem with noise. " The only time the boats exceeded the limit was when the pilots used full throttle to launch into the water, he said.
PUBLICATION: Providence Journal-Bulletin
DATE: May 18, 1998
SECTION: News, Pg. 2C
BYLINE: Mark Arsenault
DATELINE: Westerly, Rhode Island
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Ramona Sunkes, resident; Vincent Patnode, resident
Providence Journal-Bulletin reports residents of Westerly, Rhode Island, complained to the Town Council that their post office is a noisy neighbor.
According to the article, darkness of night doesn't stop the U.S. Postal Service, but several residents who live close to the post office near the intersection of Winnapaug and Airport Roads wish that it did. "They start at 3 a.m., and they run all day long," said Vincent Patnode, of 185 Winnapaug Rd. "All we're asking for is a noise barrier." Ramona Sunkes, also of 185 Winnapaug Rd., said postal trucks arrive at the site every 20 to 30 minutes. "So you just start to doze off and you hear (the truck's) loud metal doors," she said.
The article reports Postal Service spokesperson Christine Dugas said the agency is aware of the noise complaints, and has tried to be less noisy. An earth mound has been built to block some noise, she said. "Unfortunately, the way the property is set up, some homes may not be getting the benefit" of the mound, she said. The post office has also used rubberized paint on loading areas to reduce noise, she said. "Our position, frankly, is that we've been there for 10 years, and these are relatively new complaints," she said. "There is industry there; there's an airport in sight. "I'm not sure what else we can do," she said. "But we will see what more can be done to mitigate the problem at a reasonable cost." The Town Council will invite a representative from the post office to a meeting to discuss the complaints. "I'm sure if the Town Council wants to meet with the post office on any issue, we would make that happen," Dugas said.
PUBLICATION: The Independent (London, England)
DATE: May 17, 1998
SECTION: News; Page 11
BYLINE: Mark Rowe
DATELINE: South Wales, Britain
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Greg Suff, chairman of the Heads of the Valleys Alliance
The Independent of London, England, reports Clydach Gorge, a three-mile enclave of wildlife in South Wales, is under consideration for road development. Locals oppose the plan, citing environmental impacts and noise pollution.
According to the article, Clydach Gorge is known as Britain's "capital of waterfalls." The Welsh Office has proposed a plan to upgrade a 25-mile stretch of the A465 from Abergavenny to Hirwaun known as the Heads of the Valleys road. The road will be expanded from three to five lanes where it cuts through the gorge, requiring extensive blasting of limestone. The Welsh Office and supporters insist the gorge will not be greatly affected. In addition, they say that the upgrade will revitalize the local economy-the nearby mining village of Brynmawr, is ranked among the poorest in Wales, with 13 per cent unemployment-and make a dangerous road with a high accident rate much safer. Local campaigners are opposed.
The article states the gorge cuts deep through the rocks of the South Wales coalfield between Brynmawr and Gilwern. It is a wild place, with nature left to itself. Britain's oldest beech wood clings to the side of the gorge forming the Cwm Clydach nature reserve. There are 17 waterfalls, the most dramatic being the 60 feet falls at Devil's Bridge. "They say all this will be unaffected by the blasting and the new road," said Greg Suff, chairman of the Heads of the Valleys Alliance, which opposes the scheme. "But we don't believe them." The Alliance members fear that flyovers, slip roads, and road widening connected with the development will place a concrete canopy over much of the gorge, disrupt the flow of several waterfalls, and destroy many trees. They say blasting will disturb the fragile cave system around the gorge, which is home to the rare lesser horseshoe bat. "Bats are very susceptible to noise and vibration. They could just fly off and be lost forever," said Suff. The cost of the road improvement would be better spent in other ways, he said. "If there was any kind of effort to promote this place you'd get stacks of people coming here."
The article goes on to say the Alliance has social concerns, too, about the road development. "This is not just about a few trees," said Suff. "There are a whole range of reasons why this shouldn't go ahead. Noise and pollution levels will increase, the road will become more dangerous. Houses are already suffering from planning blight." A local vicar, the Rev. Mary Turnock, said the "benefits" of improved roads would pass communities by. "Local regeneration is hardly going to be helped by allowing travelers to avoid all the local communities," she said.
The article reports a public inquiry next month will address the first phase of the development from Abergavenny to Gilwern at the foot of the gorge, but campaigners believe that if permission is granted for this stage, then approval at a later date for the section through Clydach Gorge will be a formality. The inquiry is expected to last six weeks. The Alliance is hoping the current review of road building in Wales, to be published in the next couple of months, will help their cause. The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has endorsed the development, with some reservations. "We understand how important it is for the economic development of the valleys," said Eric Bowles, head of development plans at the park. "We're supporting it in principle but we want to keep it as close as possible to the existing route. Ideally we wouldn't want this. We can't say the trees or the bats won't be affected. It's a question of how badly affected they are and what the alternatives are."
PUBLICATION: Los Angeles Times
DATE: May 17, 1998
SECTION: Metro; Part B; Page 9; Metro Desk
DATELINE: Irvine, California
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Larry Agran, resident and former mayor of Irvine; Michael Ullman, resident; Paul Pruss, resident; Dave Schlenker, resident; Hanna Hill, resident
The Los Angeles Times published the following letters to the editor about an op-ed article the paper published by former mayor of Newport Beach, Clarence Turner, and his opinions on the controversial El Toro Airport. The first letter is from Larry Agran of Irvine, California:
As I read Clarence Turner's May 10 column, "How to Build an Airport That Will Fly," I recalled a meeting in my office when I was mayor of Irvine during the 1980s. Then-Newport Beach council member Clarence Turner and one of his pals in the Airport Working Group asked for the meeting, at which they demanded that Irvine accede to Newport's wishes to convert the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro to a commercial airport. Even now, I recall how impressed I was with their arrogance. They didn't seem to care that commercializing El Toro would completely trash Irvine's General Plan and 20 years of planned community development throughout central and southern Orange County. I said "no" to Turner then. And hundreds of thousands of us say "no" to him now. Turner's soothing words about a kinder, gentler international airport can't hide the truth. Even the Board of Supervisors' preferred "mid-sized" El Toro International Airport would be about half the size of today's Los Angeles International Airport, and would involve 492 takeoffs and landings in every 24-hour period. That's more than 20 commercial jet operations per hour, including middle-of-the-night cargo flights. And keep in mind that unlike LAX, El Toro is landlocked; there is no Pacific Ocean to absorb the noise and air pollution of takeoffs. In fact, the county's plans make it clear that the biggest, noisiest aircraft will take off to the north--over the cities of Tustin, Villa Park, Placentia, Orange and Fullerton. As Turner knows, this isn't a battle of North County against South County--it's the Newport Beach power crowd against the rest of Orange County.
The Los Angeles Times published this letter comes from Michael Ullman of Irvine:
Here we go again. More pro-airport propaganda. I am disappointed by Turner's attempting to portray the concept of a kinder, gentler airport. It is obvious that Turner is attempting to lull Orange County citizens into supporting an airport at El Toro. He supports an airport concept developed by an Orange County government that was involved in our bankruptcy. He supports an airport concept that is full of misinformation and downright lies. It is no surprise that he is a former mayor of Newport Beach and is on the board of directors for a pro-airport lobbying group, the Airport Working Group. It concerns me that our county government and Turner are so blinded by a project that clearly has no financial merit to the citizens of Orange County. The airport is not about jobs. It is about noise mitigation for the city of Newport Beach and a bounty of revenue for a few select developers. I agree with Turner's comment about needing bold and creative leadership. However, I disagree that the answer is an airport at El Toro. True leadership should craft a non-aviation use for El Toro, where high-paying jobs and quality of life would truly benefit the taxpayers of Orange County. It is time for responsible planning, not special interests!
The third letter is written by Paul Pruss of Lake Forest:
The op-ed article by the former mayor of Newport Beach clearly shows the arrogance of the pro-El Toro airport factions. Turner says that the issues concerning the building of El Toro airport are really noise, safety and hours of operation. If he were to leave Newport Beach and travel to South County, he would find that the issue is: We do not want an airport at El Toro. Anyone driving down MacArthur Boulevard near the 405 freeway can see the results of hundreds of millions of dollars that was spent to upgrade John Wayne Airport. And there is construction that is still going on. This must mean that money is still being spent to upgrade John Wayne. I'm sure that all of these improvements could easily accommodate around-the-clock flights and 20 million passengers a year. But then, to paraphrase the former mayor, I'm sure that when it comes to increasing the number of flights and hours of operation at John Wayne Airport, the people of Newport Beach and surrounding areas see the issues of noise, safety and hours of operation.
The next letter comes from Dave Schlenker of Laguna Hills:
Clarence Turner wrote a good and thoughtful article. The theme is with thoughtfulness and compromise, we can build El Toro airport so Orange County can grow into the 21st Century. My question is a simple one: Why do you think we want or need more growth? Maybe we happen to like things the way they are. If the people of Orange County wanted more tourists, congestion, noise, smog and crime, they can move to Los Angeles or New York. Who needs it?
The final letter in this series is written by Hanna Hill, a resident of Irvine:
Clarence Turner's article should have appeared in the Books section, under Fiction. The first fiction is that "if you build it, they will come." Yet no airline has expressed an interest in coming to El Toro. The second fiction is that the county can impose a night curfew. Yet federal laws prohibit this. The last fiction is that safe easterly takeoffs can be agreed upon by the county and the Air Pilots Assn. What if no such agreement can be arrived at? Will the airport proposal then be scrapped? There is also a mystery in this story: High-tech industry and a convention center, when proposed by the Millennium Plan, are viewed as competitively destructive to existing establishments, but are embraced when they are part of the county's "airport community." Previous fictitious claims, that an airport is needed to promote economic and job growth, have fallen by the wayside in the face of a strong economy and the superior economic benefits of the Millennium Plan. I suspect that with time, the current fiction of a "need" for increased airport capacity outside of John Wayne, will also be proven to be a spun yarn.
PUBLICATION: Los Angeles Times
DATE: May 17, 1998
SECTION: Metro; Part B; Page 16; Zones Desk
DATELINE: Los Angeles, California
The Los Angeles Times printed an editorial that debates the question of how to consider both residents' need for quiet and the economy's need for airport capacity around California's Van Nuys Airport.
According to the editorial, balancing quiet and need for airport capacity will be the question that California transportation officials will be asking themselves as they begin a new set of public hearings. The hearings will address whether Van Nuys should be allowed to continue to operate with noise levels louder than regulations permit. Currently, they have a variance, and the editorial thinks they will keep it.
The editorial says that residents tend to argue that the noise they endure isn't worth the admitted economic benefit to the region. They lose sleep and have trouble hearing conversations because of the noise. They hope to use the hearings to ease the noise by convincing aviation officials to use of quieter aircraft.
According to the editorial, Stage 2 jets are cheaper but make more noise than the newer stage 3 jets. The author argues that although a quick ban on Stage 2 jets would jeopardize profitability for many aviation operators, a"fair plan that introduces newer planes over time" would be a prudent way to go.
PUBLICATION: Los Angeles Times
DATE: May 17, 1998
SECTION: Metro; Part B; Page 16; Zones Desk
DATELINE: Los Angeles, California
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Wayne Williams, resident
The Los Angeles Times published the following letter to the editor from Wayne Williams of Sherman Oaks, California:
Re "Sound Barriers," May 12.
My wife and I moved to Sherman Oaks over 13 years ago. Then, the Van Nuys Airport was a quiet private, small-craft airport. It was not even a consideration when we purchased our home about 3 miles from the airport because it had no noisy Stage 2 jets taking off at all hours of the day and night. You can imagine our disappointment in the bureaucrats when limits on noise were ignored. Van Nuys airport and those who are responsible for controlling it have failed miserably in making the facility community friendly. For over 10 years, this facility opened its doors to a few companies with noisy Stage 2 jets and television news helicopters, and allowed them to blast their engines at our homes as they bank as far as four miles from the airport. They treat us as a backwash for their pollution and window-rattling jet blasts and flyovers. Don't be fooled. Los Angeles is losing significant revenue dollars allowing a small group on the Airport Commission to run an airport that serves the few and angers the rest. Who is listening? No one really, for the effort described in your article is only a ploy to pacify the community, as it is an election year. After the elections, the racket will continue.
PUBLICATION: The New York Times
DATE: May 17, 1998
SECTION: Section 14; Page 15; Column 2; The City Weekly Desk
DATELINE: New York City, New York
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Marcia H. Lemmon, chairwoman of the Ludlow Block Association
The New York Times published the following letter to the editor from Marcia H. Lemmon of New York City's Lower East Side. Ms. Lemmon's letter addresses who should take responsibility for noise and the ensuing costs of soundproofing. She is the chairwoman of the Ludlow Block Association.
To the Editor:
Your article on higher-tech solutions to control excessive and unwanted noise ("When Earplugs Fail," April 19) did not point the finger of responsibility where it properly belongs -- at the source of the noise. Irresponsible and arrogant business owners -- including some bars, nightclubs and music venues -- have no concern as to the overwhelmingly negative impact noise from their establishments has on their neighbors' lives. The individuals affected, nor their landlords, should not have to spend thousands of dollars installing interior windows or soundproofing. The venues responsible for the noise should be the ones to pay for any noise abatement required.
PUBLICATION: Orlando Sentinel Tribune (Orlando, Florida)
DATE: May 17, 1998
SECTION: A Section; Pg. A17
BYLINE: Ines Davis Parrish
DATELINE: Orlando, Florida
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Barry Whitley, president of the Timberlane Shores Civic Association
The Orlando Sentinel Tribune reports Florida residents who live near a naval center slated for redevelopment are worried about noise, along with declining property values and increased traffic and crime.
According to the article, Joan Seibert used to love to listen to recruits at the Naval Training Center march and sing early in the morning. Now as she looks out her window, she hears only passing cars. She wonders about the sounds soon to start - the noise of buildings being torn down to make way for apartments, homes, shops and offices. "I guess I'll just have to adapt to adjust to the traffic and the noise, " said Seibert, who has lived in her home on Mulbry Drive just outside the city limits of Winter Park and Orlando for 24 years.
The article reports in the next 10 years, Orlando Partners plans to turn the 1,100 acres of the naval center into a small town. Traffic has everyone concerned, but Winter Park officials and residents are optimistic about the plan, Commissioner Doug Storer said. Storer was the city's liaison on the Orlando project, and he served on the development team selection committee. Officials also point to such pluses as a regional park system and land for another middle school in an area that attracts families.
The article states that Barry Whitley, president of the Timberlane Shores Civic Association, said residents in his 109-home neighborhood have several concerns. They worry about increased crime along with the transient nature of apartment dwellers. Orlando Partners plan calls for more than 1,000 apartments in the residential mix. "We also are concerned about the noise and the dust [during demolition and construction), especially those of us who live closest to Glenridge," Whitley said. Also, Whitley said the apartments could force property values down. However, whether the redevelopment will be good or bad for surrounding property values is debatable. Jim Wilson, president of the Audubon Park Neighborhood Watch Organization, said that residents in the older neighborhood southwest of the NTC say home sales are good, crediting the pending development. Lee Acker, a real estate salesman with RE/MAX 200 Realty who deals in Winter Park and Audubon Park properties, said "no one really has gone that far to think about what will happen with property values."
PUBLICATION: Sacramento Business Journal
DATE: May 22, 1998
SECTION: No. 10, Vol. 15; Pg. 1; Issn: 8756-5897
BYLINE: Mark Larson,
DATELINE: Sacramento, California
The Sacramento Business Journal reports cargo companies at Sacramento's Mather Airport fear if new development is allowed closer to the facility, it will be the end of the new hub.
According to the article, cargo companies at the former Mather Air Force Base say development close to the airport is not compatible with cargo business and jet noise. In three years, Mather has attracted major air cargo operators including United Parcel Service, Airborne Express, BAX Global, and Emery Worldwide. "They're about to ruin this airport based upon a lot of input made from a developer, and that's nuts," said Alan Tubbs, district manager for Airborne Express. Dale Selee, district general manager of BAX Global shares Tubbs' fears. Selee said, "[T]to build near an airport is doing nothing but asking for problems down the road. With noise complaints, you get into issues of confining flight paths." Selee added, "All that's going to do is discourage the growth of companies that use air cargo services in the area." New " noise contour" maps expected to be approved next week would allow development to come closer to the facility than was allowed when Mather was an Air Force Base. Mather Air Force Base had a 60,000-acre buffer zone against new development. The civilian Mather Airport is to have a 12,000-acre buffer.
The article reports cargo companies fear the first encroachment will come from a large residential and commercial development called The Village at Zinfandel proposed near the northeast corner of the airport under the approach and departure path of cargo jets. Planned on 843 acres, it would have up to 1,400 homes, plus a 150-acre business park. Developer David Justice said, "There will not be noise issues." Justice contends that by 2000, jets using Mather will be required by federal mandate to fly with "stage three" engines, which are "at least 85 percent quieter" than current jet engines. But Tubbs pointed out that Emery Worldwide already uses a stage-three jet, a DC-8, at Mather. While they are designed to be quieter at 10,000 feet, he said, stage-three jets are actually louder than stage-two jets when landing and taking off. His decibel readings for the DC-8 were 80 decibels on approach and 90 decibels on takeoff. Tubbs said the stage-three jets produce a lower frequency of sound while on the ground - a sound which travels farther along the ground than that of stage-two jet engines. San Francisco International Airport has received more noise complaints from its stage-three aircraft than any others, he said.
The article states the Sacramento County Department of Airports is against allowing development so close to Mather. And County Supervisor Dave Cox opposes the new development buffers. He predicts the county will be put in the position of having to buy back houses if homeowners claim that jet noise makes their homes uninhabitable, as it has done near Sacramento International Airport. "It will not be Mather that suffers," Cox said. "It will be the taxpayers footing the bill." However, the project is strongly favored by Rancho Cordova business interests. The closure of Mather Air Force Base in 1993 cost Rancho Cordova an estimated 7,500 jobs. Speaking of the housing development and the cargo hub, "We feel that both can coexist," said Curt Haven, chief executive of the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce. Asked if he expected jet noise complaints to arise from residential development, he replied, "I don't know." John Clanton, owner of Trajen Flight Support, said the attractiveness of the airport as a cargo and general aviation hub will "deteriorate" with close residential development. And he echoed Supervisor Cox's concern that taxpayers may someday have to buy out homes because of jet noise. Said Clanton: "When you have large cargo operators coming in at 4, 5, 6 in the morning and leaving at 5, 6, 7 in the afternoon, having homes right underneath those airplanes doesn't seem to be the best use for that property."
According to the article, for the last four years Sacramento County officials have been working on new noise contour maps for civilian use of the airport. The new buffer zone, calculated with estimates of air cargo and general aviation air traffic at a fully built-out Mather, would shrink dramatically from when Mather was a military base. It would allow residential development outside of an area where noise would reach on average 60 decibels. That's 5 decibels quieter than state and federal regulations allow. But in Sacramento, buffers of 65 decibels have resulted in noise complaints from development outside the buffer zone at Sacramento International Airport, said Mather airport manager Larry Kozub. Kozub proposed to county supervisors a rectangular buffer zone around Mather, roughly a mile from each edge of the runway and five miles from each end of it. He argued that the box-like buffer was needed to preserve Mather's growth potential among cargo carriers and aviation companies. Kozub's plan, however, was rejected in favor of a noise contour map with a 60 decibel buffer. Tubbs of Airborne Express questions whether the county's noise measurements are accurate. Tubbs said his own noise meter readings show levels that get much higher than those which appear on the county's new contour maps. Using his own equipment, Tubbs has taken decibel readings at Mather's northeast perimeter - near where new homes are planned - ranging from 71 to 80 decibels on landings, and from 87 to 90 decibels on takeoffs. Seventy decibels is the sound of a 747 taking off at 1,000 feet. Noisy urban sounds typically hit 80 decibels, Tubbs said, and a diesel truck revving up 50 feet away is just below 90 decibels.
The article states next week the board will vote on amending the county general plan. It will impose a 60-decibel buffer zone, plus land-use restrictions extending another 2,000 feet beyond the noise contour map's boundary - the Mather Airport Policy Area. Property owners inside the policy area would have to grant the county a " noise easement" acknowledging they're near a runway. They would have to inform buyers of the issue. And all buildings would need to have extra insulation against noise.
PUBLICATION: Business Journal-Sacramento
DATE: May 22, 1998
SECTION: Vol 15; No 10; Pg 1
BYLINE: Mark Larson
DATELINE: Sacramento, California
Business Journal-Sacramento reports that Mather Airport is facing the problem that has bedeviled airports around the country: encroaching development. According to the article Mather Airport has become an important hub for air cargo companies but if development is allowed to come closer to the facility, its appeal to cargo companies will be lost. The article contains three subsections entitled "Shrinking Buffers", "Disputed Noise Readings" and "Housing Wanted."
Alan Tubbs, district manager for Airborne Express, for example, is quoted saying, "They're about to ruin this airport based upon a lot of input made from a developer, and that's nuts."
According to the article the threat of being hemmed in by houses is a possibility now that Sacramento County is expected to approve new "noise contour" maps next weeks. The maps will allow development to come closer to the facility than was allowed when Mather was an Air Force Base. The new maps propose that the civilian Mather Airport is to have a 12,000-acre buffer, whereas Mather had a 60,000-acre buffer zone against new development when it was an air force base
Plans for new development include a huge new residential and commercial development plan for the northeast corner of the airport, called The Village at Zinfandel. The plan turns 843 acres of what was formerly a gravel pit into 1,400 homes, plus a 150-acre business park capable of holding 2 million square feet of space.
The article notes the plans had to be limited, according to developer David Justice in order to comply with the noise buffers the county is considering. Those buffers reportedly allow less noise than state or federal standards.
According to the article Justice believes noise will not be an issue because by 2000, jets serving Mather will be required by federal mandate to fly with "stage three" engines, which Justice says are "at least 85 percent quieter" than current jet engines.
Business interests from the city of Rancho Cordova support the project. It is considered the first major development in the last 20 years. Curt Haven, the chief executive of the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce, is quoted saying, "We feel that both can co-exist."
But the article reports that the Sacramento County Department of Airports is opposed to allowing development so close to Mather. And County Supervisor Dave Cox believes the new development buffers will only put the county in trouble in the future forcing the county to buy back houses if homeowners claim their homes are uninhabitable due to jet noise as was the case near Sacramento International Airport. Cox is quoted saying, "It will not be Mather that suffers. It will be the taxpayers footing the bill."
Shrinking Buffers: According the article the closure of the former Mather Air Force Base left it with a rare asset: some the region's largest runways, suited to the large jets favored by cargo carriers.
The article reports that the county's goal has been to develop the base as a "business center with a cargo airport at its hub."
It recites how, during the last three years of unfettered growth, Mather has attracted major air cargo operators such as United Parcel Service, Airborne Express, BAX Global and Emery Worldwide.
The amount of air cargo handled at Mather's is reportedly about half that at Sacramento International Airport. The robust growth of high technology and manufacturing companies has attracted the cargo carriers, the article said.
When Mather was a military base, it had a development buffer totaling about 60,000 acres because of the number and variety of aircraft flown. During the last four years county officials have been working to change contour maps to allow for civilian use of the airport. Under the new plans the buffer zone will shrink to a mere 12,000 acres. That figure reportedly factors in the estimated air cargo and general aviation air traffic that could be expected once Mather has fully expanded as a civilian airport.
The proposed buffer zone would allow residential development outside of an area where noise would reach on average 60 decibels. According to the article that is 5 decibels quieter than state and federal regulations require.
Mather's airport manager Larry Kozub is mentioned in the article pointing out that even buffers of 65 decibels have resulted in noise complaints from development outside the buffer zone in other parts of Sacramento, specifically at Sacramento International Airport.
In fact, according to Kozub, an environmental impact report completed in 1994 initially proposed a buffer zone that would allow development only beyond a "65-decibel zone," in accordance with state and federal rules and that zone was significantly smaller than that of the old Air Force base.
The article notes that Kozub proposed to county supervisors a rectangular buffer zone around Mather, arguing the box-like buffer - roughly a mile from each edge of the runway and five miles from each end of it - was needed to preserve Mather's growth potential among cargo carriers and aviation companies. Kozub's plan, however, was reportedly rejected in favor of a noise contour map that provides a 60-decibel buffer.
The article says the general plan will be voted upon next week together with a proposal to amend the plan to impose a 60-decibel buffer zone, plus land-use restrictions extending another 2,000 feet beyond the noise contour map's boundary. Under the plan property owners inside of this area - known as the Mather Airport Policy Area - must grant the county a "noise easement" as an acknowledgment they're near a runway. Buyers would have to be informed of the issue and extra insulation against noise would be required for all buildings.
Disputed Noise Readings: Cargo carriers at Mather are expecting the Village of Zinfandel development to generate noise complaints, which, they fear could limit their activity and ultimately discourage more cargo carriers from coming to build at Mather.
Alan Tubbs, district manager for Airborne Express, is concerned about the accuracy of the county's noise measurements. The article states that the county used average noise levels to assemble its contour maps. Tubbs, on the other hand, said the cargo business is busiest at Mather early in the morning and early in the evening.
Tubbs has used his own equipment to take decibel readings. His readings demonstrate much higher noise levels than those on the county's new maps.
Tubbs' readings were taken at the airport's northeast perimeter-close to the proposed cite for the new homes - and range from 71 to 80 decibels on landings, and from 87 to 90 decibels on takeoffs.
According to Tubbs this compares with the sound of a 747 taking off at 1,000 feet - which is 70 decibels; noisy urban sounds which usually hit 80 decibels; and a diesel truck revving up 50 feet away, which is just below 90 decibels.
Housing wanted: According to the news article Rancho Cordova business leaders welcome The Village of Zinfandel as a means to help them meet the need for more housing.
Curt Haven, chief executive of the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce, is reported saying the Chamber has attempted for the last four years to find development compatible with Mather as an air cargo hub. When asked if he expected jet noise complaints to arise from residential development, he reportedly replied, "I don't know."
The proposed cite for the homes in the Village of Zinfandel are beneath the approach and departure path of cargo jets.
The article reported that the developer's project proposed 2,942 houses and a business park four years ago. Now, the number has decreased by 1,000 and more upscale homes are planned. A business park and light industrial uses are also part of the plan. Building is expected to begin during the third quarter of this year.
According to the developer, quieter, stage-three jets will soon become commonplace at Mather, and make noise issues mute. However, Alan Tubbs district manager for Airborne Express is noted in the article pointing out that Emery Worldwide already uses a stage-three jet, a DC-8, at Mather.
The article points out how, according to Tubbs, the stage-three jets are not quieter. They are actually louder than current stage-two jets when landing and taking off. They are designed to be quieter only at 10,000 feet. Tubbs' readings for example of the DC-8 were 80 decibels on approach and 90 decibels on takeoff.
The article also quotes Tubbs' statements to explain how the stage-three jets produce a lower frequency of sound while on the ground--a sound that travels farther along the ground than stage-two jet engines. Tubbs asserts that San Francisco International Airport has received more noise complaints from its stage-three aircraft than any others.
Tubbs is not alone in his fears, the article reports Dale Selee, district general manager of BAX Global, an air cargo carrier that came to Mather last summer, shares Tubbs' anxieties. "There is a need for that type of residential development. But to build near an airport is doing nothing but asking for problems down the road," the article said quoting Selee.
The article further quotes Selee saying, "With noise complaints, you get into issues of confining flight paths. All that's going to do is discourage the growth of companies that use air cargo services in the area."
Tim Rowe, general manager of Trajen Flight Support, the refueler at Mather, is also quoted in the article saying, "You're going to have noise complaints." Rowe just came from a general aviation airport in Santa Monica
Trajen's owner, John Clanton, confirmed Rowe's view. The article notes that Clanton feels the attractiveness of the airport as a cargo and general aviation hub will "deteriorate" with close residential development.
Clanton is noted in the article saying that he typically causes flight hours to be restricted because of noise. Clanton echoed Supervisor Cox's concern that taxpayers may someday have to buy out homes rendered useless because of jet noise: "When you have large cargo operators coming in at 4, 5, 6 in the morning and leaving at 5, 6, 7 in the afternoon, having homes right underneath those airplanes doesn't seem to be the best use for that property."
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