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Cooper Stadium Racetrack Proposal News & Updates

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Started 2 years ago by Walker
Latest reply from JeepGirl

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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Past News:

http://www.columbusunderground.com/tag/cooper-stadium
http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/tags/cooper-stadium

The latest:

Expert: Noise will be minimal in village
Friday, May 21, 2010
By GARY SEMAN JR.
ThisWeek Staff Writer

Noise from a proposed racetrack at the former Cooper Stadium likely will have a profound effect on the immediate neighborhood but not as much on German Village, according to a consultant's report.

Acoustics expert Eric Zwerling said that based on his sound models, noise drifting from Cooper Park would be considerable for Franklinton and those attending services in Green Lawn Cemetery.

But if the weather conditions are right, those who live and work in German Village, Merion Village, Schumacher Place and neighborhoods across the Scioto River might not even hear the engines grinding on Fridays and Saturdays when races will be held -- though that will be variable, Zwerling said.

READ MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/germanvillage/stories/2010/05/19/Racetrack-noise-will-have-minimal-effect-on-German-Village.html?sid=104

Posted 2 years ago #
JimSweeney
E. Fton
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phew. that's a relief. it's good to know the noise won't be profound and considerable anywhere but in Franklinton!

Posted 2 years ago #
Talcott
Clintonville
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Gah! I haven't been following this story much, but "...if the weather conditions are right, those who live and work in German Village, Merion Village, Schumacher Place and neighborhoods across the Scioto River might not even hear the engines grinding on Fridays and Saturdays when races will be held" makes it sound like the noise would be unbearably loud close to the source.

Not knowing much about racing, I can't figure out why it would be that noisy. I would think it wouldn't be all that much worse than a busy freeway (maybe double that), which could be easily mitigated by sound barriers ringing the track, but if it's reaching German Village, it must be a good bit louder than that. Is it just the nature of the race car engines, or is the proposed design of the track part of the sound-leaking issue?

Posted 2 years ago #
Snarf
Dystopia
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lol @ "grinding" engines. are they making coffee?

pulverizing, granulating, pestling, braying, pulverizing engines!!

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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JimSweeney wrote >>
phew. that's a relief. it's good to know the noise won't be profound and considerable anywhere but in Franklinton!

Well, to be fair, the article appeared in the German Village edition of This Week News, so it was written specifically for the residents of that area.

But yeah... doesn't sound like a good deal for Franklinton in terms of noise.

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Friday, May 21, 2010
Struggle is engaged over Cooper Park development
BUSINESS FIRST OF COLUMBUS - BY Jeff Bell

The lobbying pace is quickening over a plan to convert Cooper Stadium to a motorsports complex as Columbus community groups try to drum up support for their positions on the controversial proposal.

The German Village Business Community trade group recently asked the Coleman administration to join it in opposing the proposed Cooper Park project in Franklinton, claiming noise from racing events would jeopardize the future of their businesses.

READ MORE: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/05/24/story3.html?b=1274673600%5E3391131

Posted 2 years ago #
JimSweeney
E. Fton
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one quick correction to the first story: "ROAR is composed of representatives from many South Side neighborhoods, including German Village and Merion Village, as well as businesses and environmental groups.' There are at least two members of ROAR who own homes in Franklinton: one who has been there for 48 years and one who bought two years ago. This is important to note because the FOR people are trying to paint ROAR as having no legitimacy in Franklinton.

Posted 2 years ago #
CooperGuy

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It's interesting that the ROAR sound consultant, in answers to questioning at the SWAC meeting, confirmed that the developerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s noise model is accurate and basically inferred that sound levels can only be too loud if you assume louder cars than those that will be allowed to race at the track.

The Arshot sound abatement plan (types of cars/walls/lowering the track grade) is specifically designed to keep the racing noise within the city code and succeeds at that - per both experts. Since the ROAR consultant has now agreed that the Arshot plan can work, and if it's stated goals are to keep the noise levels at or below the city regulations, then how can he also claim it will have a "profound" effect on Franklinton? Especially since the existing freeway noise is well over the 65dbA daytime city code?

He knows very well that it's a workable plan, but that's not who wrote his check.

Posted 2 years ago #
JimSweeney
E. Fton
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thanks Cooper Guy for clearing that up.

Posted 2 years ago #
CooperGuy

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No problem.

Posted 2 years ago #
JimSweeney
E. Fton
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CooperGuy wrote >>
It's interesting that the ROAR sound consultant, in answers to questioning at the SWAC meeting, confirmed that the developerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s noise model is accurate and basically inferred that sound levels can only be too loud if you assume louder cars than those that will be allowed to race at the track.
The Arshot sound abatement plan (types of cars/walls/lowering the track grade) is specifically designed to keep the racing noise within the city code and succeeds at that - per both experts. Since the ROAR consultant has now agreed that the Arshot plan can work, and if it's stated goals are to keep the noise levels at or below the city regulations, then how can he also claim it will have a "profound" effect on Franklinton? Especially since the existing freeway noise is well over the 65dbA daytime city code?
He knows very well that it's a workable plan, but that's not who wrote his check.
i didn't know there was a sound abatement plan. is that something you can share?

Posted 2 years ago #
CooperGuy

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The Arshot/HMMH study is a plan that describes sound abatement measures necessary to achieve the included goals;

From the HMMH study;

The study involved the measurement of existing noise levels in noise-sensitive areas surrounding the site, modeling of predicted racing noise levels during an expected loud hour of racing, evaluation of the noise requirements in the City of Columbus noise ordinance, and development of noise abatement measures for the race track to ensure substantial compliance with the ordinance.

and;

5.1 Noise modeling goal
A primary goal of the noise modeling process was to develop feasible noise abatement measures on the Cooper Park race track property that would allow racing to occur without exceeding the CityÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s noise ordinance to any significant degree. As a result, several noise barrier configurations were evaluated
during the modeling process. A particular challenge to achieving the CityÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s noise limits is the south property line with the Green Lawn Cemetery, which is relatively close to the proposed track. However,
with a tall double-barrier system, the CityÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s noise limits can be achieved.

The purpose of the Arshot study is obviously not intended to justify something that already exists, it's goal is to suggest and create effective sound abatement measures (a plan) for this project. That's an important point that some choose to disregard - it's a proactive action. Once this was presented to Arshot it was up to them to decide whether or not they wanted to commit the investment necessary to comply with the measures. It's been suggested before, but never has a race track developer committed to completely encircling a track with a wall of this extent - until Arshot chose to follow those recommendations. Basically, they said, OK, we'll spend the money to make it work. And as Schottenstien stated during the first SWAC meeting, he has no desire or intention to continually fight with anyone. So they will do it right from the beginning.

The bottom line is that both sound consultants agree that if the racing noise levels inside the walls are as described in the HMMH study, (plan) then the noise levels outside the walls will meet the city regulations in all but an extremely limited area. Those extremely limited areas are already beyond the city regulations due to the freeway. They actually agree.

As you are a Franklinton Commissioner, I would suggest that you sit down with Arshot representatives to ask these questions directly. I'm sure they would welcome the opportunity to answer your questions/concerns.

Sorry for the long post.

Posted 2 years ago #
Urbanboi
Downtown
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In favor of Cooper Park....thats just me speaking for myself.

Posted 2 years ago #
roy
Downtown
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CooperGuy wrote >>
As you are a Franklinton Commissioner, I would suggest that you sit down with Arshot representatives to ask these questions directly. I'm sure they would welcome the opportunity to answer your questions/concerns. Sorry for the long post.

It doesn't help your cause, CooperGuyBill, to respond sarcastically to Franklinton AC members and others who oppose a controversial development proposal.

If the applicant can convice Greenlawn and the nursing home of the noise 'science' they purchased, a lot of others would be convinced to go along with the race track plan too. Linda Burkey is an extremely bright & fair minded businesswoman. Try selling her on the noise plan for starters.

Posted 2 years ago #
CooperGuy

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Not needing to help my cause at all, Roygina. The facts speak for themselves. Some may choose to ignore them, that's their prerogative.

No sarcasm intended for Jim Sweeny, and sorry if it sounded that way, but a web forum is a place for opinion, and a lousy place for details - if he wants details, the source is a better place to go.

Posted 2 years ago #
JimSweeney
E. Fton
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Ok. I get it. you're calling the sound study a sound abatement plan. and the facts are in there.

Posted 2 years ago #
BeerMan
Hilliard, OH
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roy wrote >>

CooperGuy wrote >>
As you are a Franklinton Commissioner, I would suggest that you sit down with Arshot representatives to ask these questions directly. I'm sure they would welcome the opportunity to answer your questions/concerns. Sorry for the long post.

It doesn't help your cause, CooperGuyBill, to respond sarcastically to Franklinton AC members and others who oppose a controversial development proposal.
If the applicant can convice Greenlawn and the nursing home of the noise 'science' they purchased, a lot of others would be convinced to go along with the race track plan too. Linda Burkey is an extremely bright & fair minded businesswoman. Try selling her on the noise plan for starters.

Ok Roy,
I guess I failed to see the sarcasm in the response from CooperGuy. It sounded like a straight forward answer to a straight forward question from Mr Sweeney. But maybe I missed something.

And are implying that CooperGuy is in fact Mr Bill Schottenstein (CooperGuyBill)? If so, you are way off base there as well. He is my friend and co-founder of FOR Columbus. None of us are even on the Arshot payroll.

I don't understand why there is such resistance to sitting down with the developer to discuss the project. That's what I did before I got involved. I was nobody special who walked in off the street to find out the details of the project. I expected them to thank me for my time & send me packing. But instead, they allowed me to ask questions & make suggestions. They have even implemented some of those suggestions that I made on the first day.

Later,
BeerMan

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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I love these games of "dueling experts". Most of the time these things seem to end up inviting folks to decide issues on the perceived motivations of the folks paying the bills for the expert testimonies in question.

This one seems to be shaping up to be a battle over which expert is using more slippery language and careful definitions. Always entertaining to watch if you don't have a horse in the race.

Posted 2 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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I'm not sure why anyone thinks a racetrack two miles from downtown is a good idea. There's a reason these things are away from large population centers. Even the Brickyard is 5 1/2 miles outside of Indianapolis.

Posted 2 years ago #
CDS sherman
East Franklinton
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who is unwilling to meet with the developers?

Posted 2 years ago #