Now
Fair
66.0°
High
87°
Low
64°
Full Forecast

Coupon

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > News > Local
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

County orders sound testing at drag strip site

Comments 24 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

BY JEAN ORTIZ / Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Jun 28, 2007 - 05:17:49 pm CDT

Lancaster County leaders have asked for noise tests from the location of a proposed drag strip to understand the impact on nearby residents.

The County Board of Commissioners on Thursday asked health department officials to conduct tests to predict just how much noise they could expect if they approved plans for a drag strip in the northern part of the county.

Motor sports entrepreneur Greg Sanford wants to build a quarter-mile drag strip east of U.S. 77 between Branched Oak and Davey roads. The board is expected to take up his request in a public hearing July 31.

Story Photo
In this August 2004 file photo, Greg Sanford, Nebraska Motorplex owner, watches as cars take test runs on the track in preparation for an NHRA Divison 5 Championship Points Meet at the Scribner track. (LJS File)

But before the board can get to Sanford’s project, it first must consider an amendment to the county’s zoning code, which doesn’t address motor sports. An amendment would lay the foundation for regulations governing any separately approved motor sports facility.

The board’s request for testing followed a sound presentation from acoustics expert Dominique Chéenne.

The board wants the test results by July 17, the day commissioners are due to consider the zoning amendment.

Meeting that deadline is possible, but contingent on cooperation from Sanford, who would need to allow testers and their equipment on his property, said Scott Holmes, who heads the Environmental Health Division of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department.

The department would simulate the sound of a drag race on his property and measure the effect at nearby residences.

Holmes and other health officials have handled sound matters in helping county officials put together the amendment.

While board Chairman Bob Workman initially suggested the date and time of the test be publicized, Holmes requested that it not be in order to simulate normal conditions.

Residents in the immediate area should be notified, though asked to remain in their homes during the testing, commissioners suggested.

The closest property to Sanford’s proposed start line is 1,400 feet, Holmes said. The next closest are two properties about 2,700 feet and 3,100 feet from the proposed finish line.

Noise testing is a key part of the health department recommendations on the zoning amendment, which Holmes presented to the board Thursday. Among their recommendations:

* Establish the baseline noise levels at the nearest residential property.

* Set a limit by increasing the measured baseline noise level by 10 decibels during the day, which is defined as 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Set the nighttime limit, effective from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., as 6 decibels over the measured baseline noise level.

* Set a limit of noise levels no greater than 81 decibels.

* Create provisions for variances for special events.

Commissioner Larry Hudkins cautioned his colleagues they need to be cognizant of the limitations’ effect on the overall community and ensure they don’t end up with unintended consequences.

Agricultural equipment as well can be noisy, said Hudkins, a farmer who said he has one tractor that runs about 85 decibels.

“We want to be careful where we’re going here,” he said.

Reach Jean Ortiz at 473-7107 or jortiz@journalstar.com.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Local > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
AL wrote on June 28, 2007 4:12 pm:
" It's noisy at my home when the Saltdog stadium has concerts, fireworks etc. - and the Saltdod stadium was built long after I was living in my present home. No one wants anything in their own backyard, but progress happens and you live with it or purchase so much property around your home so you don't have to deal with it. You can't expect change to never occur. "
brian in Lincoln wrote on June 28, 2007 4:32 pm:
" Why should we care about noise at all? Go live in Olympic Heights, Ashley Heights, Air Park, Capital Beach or any of the properties close to the airport. The air national guard creates more noise, more often, than anyone in the whole city. They DONT CARE one bit about the people who live around there and the noise they make at all hours of the day and night. The county should do this for the ENTIRE county, not just by the proposed drag strip "
Bryan in Montana wrote on June 28, 2007 6:04 pm:
" The difference about the air guard is, they were already there long before so many people moved nearby. They CHOSE to live next to the racket, it wasn't forced on them. "
Drag tech wrote on June 28, 2007 6:31 pm:
" Nice to see the board taking some action on this issue. It is about time. I just hope they use professional acustical engineer since the Lancaster county health department has stated on public record. They do not know how to deal with sound. "
NO RESTRICTIONS wrote on June 28, 2007 6:45 pm:
" Ok lets make the drag strip quieter than farm equiptment. these board members are as sharp as marbles. "
Plug your ears! wrote on June 28, 2007 9:40 pm:
" Military aircraft - I'm thankful to hear the sounds of military aircraft. Those men and women need to train, transport supplies/troop. Those facilities have been here for decades (uh, that's why Airpark is there). Completely different situation then testing for noise for a new, proposed dragstrip. "
Can you hear me now wrote on June 28, 2007 11:19 pm:
" Finally, a sound test. Now these neighbors who live 1 to 5 miles away will finally realize when the test is conducted how sound decreases over distance and they will find out they cant hear it because of the sound ceated by the crickets,frogs, paragliders and llamas will mitigate the sound caused by the test. "
let the city have it wrote on June 29, 2007 1:32 am:
" the city will get the revenue, let them have the dragstrip as well. The ambient noise level is much higher in the city, what's a little more? "
go figure wrote on June 29, 2007 6:57 am:
" Yes, there are industrial areas in the city where noise would be abated. Some of these locations where on the recommended sites map. Let the city have the dragstrip. "
mike wrote on June 29, 2007 7:05 am:
" you ever hear a nebraska football game. plenty loud "
George wrote on June 29, 2007 8:36 am:
" It's like the commissioners are hunting for a reason to shoot it down, not support it. Build it! Build it! Build it! Some hick doesn't want the track 3000 ft away, so what! Let's stop all growth in the area because of one or two fuddy duddy nimbys. "
johnson wrote on June 29, 2007 9:11 am:
" Hey if larry hudkins has a tractor that has 85 decibels, he needs to get more money from u.s.d.a to get a new tractor. I see that he is one of the farmers on the list with his hand out. Some people don't have to work just run for office and beg from others. "
Perfect solution wrote on June 29, 2007 10:09 am:
" Since you think football is "plenty loud" let's put the drag strip next to the stadium. Nothing will stop growth like a drag strip--who would want to build anything next to it. Except maybe a cig shop or bar. Just what we need in north Lincoln, a drag strip right next to the dump. "
llama mama wrote on June 29, 2007 11:42 am:
" Can you hear me needs to get a clue. Perhaps you should visit a farm and tell me which animal is going to abate even the ambient 80-85 decibal noise of a drag strip. I seldom hear my llamas make ANY sounds, let alone noise! "Finally, a sound test." Maybe a few livestock and those 'loud birds' should be within a quarter mile so they could witness the impact on nature as well. Bring it on and hopefully every commissioner get educated before they make a decision on this dragstrip, they owe that much to both sides. "
Right to Farm wrote on June 29, 2007 11:59 am:
" I farm out in the Davey area and I am getting very concerned with the acreage poeple dictating my right to farm with equipment, run my drying equipment, irrigate and spread manure for fertilizer on my fields. I agree with Larry Hudkins with concerns that just a few which are acreage owners in my area will dictate how I run my farming operation. Just this year a farmer was baling hay next to the Nebraska Penitentiary and some homeowner complained and the farmer recieved a ticket for noise violation. There are many more stories that we are "hearing" about acreage owners complaing about dust, noise and manure and these acreage owners can say they are not against the farmer just the race track, but even before the race track has been proposed, we were already being bothered with their complaints. In a way, I welcome the race track in this area over housing so that commercially Hwy 77 can grow and keep some of these acreages numbers from growing. "
nekkar wrote on June 29, 2007 12:31 pm:
" I so hope they don't build this, I'll really miss the amusing whining and crying from the supporters! "
Farmer wrote on June 29, 2007 12:46 pm:
" I never realized before this issue came up that race fans were so against farmers. In fact I would bet that a lot of racers and race fans grew up on farms themselves. Race fans: you are alienating the farmers that might otherwise have sided with you. "
go elsewhere wrote on June 29, 2007 12:56 pm:
" Drag strips everywhere are detested by nimbys. All over the country this same debate is played out over and over. Put it out by Greenwood and I80. If it's such a great money maker, put out the money for land by the interstate. Or better yet, go back to Scribner and float some more taxpayer grant money like you did before. "
Supporter Logic wrote on June 29, 2007 3:17 pm:
" The "logic" of the drag strip supporters astounds me. There has never, ever been a noise complaint out north of Lincoln about tractors, birds, or llamas. To suggest that those sounds will mask the noise of a drag strip is utterly stupid. "
Right to farm? wrote on June 30, 2007 10:54 am:
" You sound like a drag strip supporter plant. This is about a drag strip noise text amenedment, not a farm noise text amendment. I didn't know we had a farmer who irrigates out here by Davey. Where are the irrigaion pipes? "
Whatever?? wrote on July 2, 2007 4:23 pm:
" Don't bash on Hudkins - He is your ticket for that drag strip. I live right next to that strip and I hear all kinds of noises. Nothing will pass their noise testing - betcha. Crop dusting is loud, farming is loud and so is a drag strip. I've got a drag car ready to run but I won't say that I want to run it just down the road from my home. I'm tired of the noise. After Americruise this past weekend I'm tired of noise, noise, noise. Open headers - what decibles do they reach???? However, It was sad watching people run around trying to find a place to street race this weekend. A drag strip would have been nice. BUT NOT IN MY BACK YARD. I was glad to go home to the peace after Americruise! :) "
Hick Town wrote on July 2, 2007 4:40 pm:
" Is this over yet....Llams, chickens, tractors, drag cars gosh we sound like a hick town. Maybe they will sell Git-R Done Beer at the strip! Now that's a combo! "
D wrote on July 6, 2007 10:36 pm:
" Why don't they put it in Beatrice next to our race track. I think our town would be happy to bring in the extra tax money. They run 20 cars at a time for half an hour over and over every saterday night. Not just two cars for a few sec. Or any other track for that matter. But wish it would be down here am looking forward to building a car for the track once it goes in, and find out the rules and what classes. Would love to see the big boy's near by once or twice a year. Not much to do in a corn feild! Why is having some fun so hard to do? Beatrice bring's cars from Canada during the nationals! This town is use to noise and knows how to deal with it. Let Lincoln people drive down here to where we can still have some fun. LOL. My two cents.Don't give up the good fight!!!!!!!!! There are alot of people waiting for this to happen, that don't say anything.I think becouse it seems to good to be true. Anything is possable but you have to work for it! If Lincoln is to dumb to understand how they wopuld benifit from this and want to fight it all the way. Go a few miles south and let it happen. Who knows the next big Daddy!!!!! (Don) name or not lol might just come from around here if they have the chance to get started. Nothing like that could ever happen if city's worry about the wrong things. LET THE RACES BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "
Drew in Omaha wrote on July 11, 2007 12:24 am:
" I tell you what, this debate never fails to ammuse. You have people who want their "peace and quiet", and there are those who want a little progress in Lancaster county, and a place to play in a safe environment. No one is going to be happy, but from someone in the big bad city of Omaha, there used to be a great race track called SUNSET SPEEDWAY that ran for years. Then we had all sorts of develpoment going on by the track, and people complained about some of the noise, which was not even close to being bad...and now the place is a waste of space, a golf course. I just wish they would get some competant people in, do the testing, and possibly have the county members stop stonewalling and get on with something new for the area. Hopefully this meeting, we won't have council members absent or sleeping during the meetings. "

Ads by Yahoo!