Debate over race venue noise becomes deafening

A more credible sound test is being sought by the Town of Fredonia Plan Commission to determine how much noise an autocross and drifting racing facility would make, and that’s just one of the hurdles the proposal faces.

Where stormwater will flow given the large slab of cement being placed on an open field at the southeast corner of Highway 57 and Jay Road has neighbors concerned, and increased traffic is another issue.

A number of town residents oppose such a facility, and several spoke at the Jan. 7 Plan Commission meeting that drew around 100 people and sometimes got contentious.

Jay Bullington plans to construct a paved lot for motorsports on 72 acres at the southeast corner of Highway 57 and Jay Road.

Bullington, owner of the automatic drivetrain upgrade company JXB Performance in Saukville, is seeking a conditional use permit for a 17,000-square-foot headquarters for his business, a venue space for motorsports activities, pavilion-like covered area, observation balcony and restaurant, along with accessory uses.

An 18-acre paved lot would be used for autocross and driver education. A six-acre track would be designed for drifting, sliding a car sideways while still controlling it.

Bullington conducted a sound test on Dec. 20 using speakers at the site and monitoring the noise at 10 stops within a two-mile radius. For autocross, volumes were 75, 85, 95 and 105  decibels. For drifting, it was 80, 90, 100 and 110 decibels.

In most cases on the windy afternoon, only the 110-decibel drifting could be heard.

But that wasn’t enough to convince multiple members of the commission that noise wouldn’t be an issue.

 “I’m still unsure on the sound. It didn’t clarify for me one way or the other if it’s going to be noisy,” Tom Mishefske said of the sound test, adding any sound report should take into account noise reduction measures Bullington has proposed, such as berms, the decibel levels at the property line, something the town ordinances address and the ambient sound of the area from Highway 57 and the railroad tracks.

Bill Koeppen said, “it was so windy that I don’t think it was a fair test.”

Matt Clarke said he noticed more noise coming from traffic on Highway 57.

“If we’re serious about moving forward with this, get an independent study,” he said.

Commissioner Jennifer Strohmeyer agreed that hiring an independent firm is the correct move.

John Depies questioned the credibility of the test.

“When Mr. Burlington and his employees perform their own sound testing, it invalidates it because he’s biased,” he said, questioning the level of the volume that was set.

Bullington said he has data from sound loggers that proves the correct decibel levels were reached.

“The most appropriate, correct and proper way to do any test, whether it is sound, stormwater or traffic, is for the Town Plan Commission to select and hire a certified, experienced independent noise audiologist and noise abatement contractor,” Depies said.

Bullington would be charged for those services.

Most town and area residents who spoke oppose the proposal and support hiring an independent firm to do a sound test.

“I don’t ever remember grading my own tests,” Michael Yank, who lives two miles from the site in the Town of Holland, said.

Stacey Kannenberg, who lives on Cedar Valley Road a little more than a mile from the proposed track, handed the commission a petition with more than 100 signatures opposing the idea and plans to ask more people to sign it.

Kannenberg said the only economic impact the town would receive is if people attending the track’s events patronize town businesses, of which there are few.

She cited traffic as another concern.

“I feel that Jay picked the wrong location,” she said. “Jay Road can’t handle the traffic now. Now you’re going to add more across the street. It’s already a very dangerous intersection with dump trucks, gravel pit trucks, milk trucks, the farm equipment.”

Lance Leider, who lives near the site, is worried that water will flow onto his farm.

“I don’t think anyone wants 10 acres of water shooting their way that wasn’t there before,” he said.

Plan Commission Chairman Chris Janik said,” I believe that this development should have the benefit of equal opportunity and not be subjected to standards higher than existing businesses.”

Given the commission’s general consensus, it will seek to hire an independent firm to do a sound test before addressing water and traffic issues.