Agenda - Council - 12/11/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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snow boarding events. All events will be scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m. except music festivals, which the applicant is requesting be allowed until 12 a.m. All events will require the use of a PA speaker system and bleachers that will be permanently installed on the property that will point southeast. The site plan has been revised to indicate the use of one (far eastern) softball diamond for all events, the construction of an additional berm between the western diamond and the location of the proposed .events and a fence .between the spectator area and the event area. These events would be held by promoters working with Diamonds that provide all the necessary tracks, pools, and other associated equipment. These promoters hold events many times a year around the metro area, with the majority being held at County fairs. The details of the request are outlined in a letter from the applicant, included in your packet. Mr. Gruber has submitted a noise impact study that was conducted at motocross events in northern Minnesota. The applicant has revised the site plan to include an additional berm on the western side of the proposed event area beyond existing berming, and has also submitted data with regard to the parking/traffic flow situation. The applicant has stated that these events will replace, in a proportional amount, the number and size of softball tournaments held on the property (In 2007, there were 27 softball tournaments on the property). Staff took measurements of sound impacts from a sound trial conducted on November 15, 2007. The sound trial was held with 20 motocross bikes on the property on a Thursday afternoon. The bikes' engines were operating in place at full throttle, but not moving through the gears. Staff took decibel level measurements at eight different locations to the north, east, and west and to the south in Dayton. The value of this -data is limited because it was not a professional study, the nature of the proposed events will be different than the sound trial in -terms of duration and engine use, and the weather conditions will likely not be the same during the events in the summer. Also, conducting the trial on a Thursday does not simulate a Saturday evening condition because traffic will interfere much less during non-rush hour times. That said, the motocross vehicles were not as loud as the traffic noise (during "rush-hour") from Highway 10 in most locations. The bikes could be heard at the two closet residential locations (Alpaca Estates and Rivenwick), but the decibel levels observed did not exceed 60 db (A), which is City Code's definition of a nuisance. - Recommendation: The Planning Commission heard the request on October 4, 2007, and tabled action, requesting moreinformation with regard to the sound levels and mitigation plans, traffic circulation and parking, and a schedule of events (reduced number of events). The City Council and Planning Commission mef at a joint worksession on October 30, 2007, and discussed the possibility of allowing these events on a trial basis, in order to monitor the sound levels and associated complaints. Noise mitigation efforts were also discussed, such as examining the effects of berming, designing the PA speaker system to point away from residents, and/or limiting the number of events. -258-