The Challenge
The Tamworth Foundation wanted a balanced, neutral noise evaluation of a proposed club racetrack facility in Tamworth, located in the foothills of the White Mountains. The study needed to address both the concerns of citizens who feared that noise from the facility would adversely affect their town, as well as the interests of others who desired the facility for the potential economic benefits.
The Strategy
Since no noise or zoning regulations were applicable, HMMH's analysis focused on the expected average community reaction from the facility. Our analysis addressed busy days as well as average days. We recommended property-line noise limits that would allow the facility to operate with all but the noisiest modified vehicles, and yet minimize the impact and audibility of racing noise at the nearest homes and throughout the town.
The Solution
The Tamworth selectmen and the town adopted the property-line noise limits.
Chris and the team from HMMH did a first-rate job for Page County as we looked at sound propagation from a new race track near the town of Shenandoah. His experience was lauded by county citizens and he was able to gain the respect of local residents, the race track owner and county officials combined. The results of the study were exactly what we were looking for to help strike a balance between the rights of residents to enjoy the solitude of a very rural area and the need for a local business to thrive and foster the area's tourism industry. HMMH would be my first call when faced with a similar problem in the future.
Mark Belton
