Agenda - Council - 05/27/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I '1 I ! I I I I I I I i I I I I I I I I date myself, but one of my favorite all-time pro football players was Dick "Night Train" Lane. He played for the Lions, in the 50's. He had the nickname because he hit you like a night train. Fast. Hard. But, actually, not loud. He liked to sneak up on recievers, and unload. Anyway, what are the vibration and noise levels, on average, sampled over a pair of random two week periods, north of and parallel to the tracks, say, 50, 100, 150 yards north of the tracks, at that land, now? How loud will it be in the summer, when people like to leave a window open, and let a nice breeze in? Who is working on this very, very real problem, for the LLC? What will the City have to live with if noise turns oht to be a residential problem at the LLC's development site, in the future, when it is already built and populated? That is a problem the City would endure, long after.the LLC has folded and its principals moved on to other ventures. How will that impact tennaneies and vacancies, and the quality of tenant attracted to the rentals that are being planned? I am certain there are social impact.study methods to get some kind of data. I see no social- impact consultant identified on the LLC's website. I can see all kinds of problems ~ starting fro1T1 savvy real estate agents finding out how to check with BNSF to see when the trains are not expected, i.e., when to show the properties to unsuspecting potential buyers ~ renters. I know in Seattle they would check with the airport to see which runways and flight paths were in use before showing a property. They learned the art of cancelling and reseheduling, as a survival trait. They learned nobody would buy, otherwise, unless they were tricked into it. Perhaps the people doing noise abatement and compensation work around the metro airport would have some real useful knowledge, and I would bet you could figure out where to start making a few calls or web visits, to learn what those folks have to say. I have said enough. Again, my point is, if the Town Center is going to be next to one of the busiest rail lines in the nation, the impacts of that, on livability and srnartness of growth at that site catmot simply be ignored, as non-existant. We all want the LLC's effort to succeed, i.e., to not leave Ramsey with a big ongoing set of problems, of any kind, long after the steps of the LLC people have vanished into the .silence of time. Again, I have downloaded some BNSF and railway safety web materials and site boolcmarks and will forward these, if you are interested. I cannot see how BNSF would not be factored in, and invited to voice its priorities and position, in this AUAR phase. Thank you. Eric Zaetsch cc: Councihnember Strommen John Feges -177-