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Noise board says no to drag racing
The decision pleases some who live near Portland International Raceway, which plans to appeal
Thursday, March 10, 2005
STEPHEN BEAVEN
After an avalanche of opposition from neighborhood groups, the city's Noise Review Board on Wednesday denied a request from Portland International Raceway for a variance that would allow regional drag racing at the track this summer.
In denying the track a "no limit" variance for regional drag races in August, the board cited several factors, including the potential for dangerous noise levels and a lack of community outreach by the raceway.
The raceway's manager, Mark Wigginton, said he expected the request to be denied and plans to ask his superiors at the Portland Bureau of Parks & Recreation to appeal the decision to the City Council.
North Portland residents applauded the review board's decision and would welcome an appeal, said Jan Woodruff, who lives on Hayden Island. She said she'd like to address the council on a variety of noise issues in her neighborhood.
"I'm pleased to be moving forward," she said.
Wigginton has said that if the track could successfully host regional drag races this summer, he might be able persuade one of the major drag-racing associations to bring an event here every year. He estimates major drag racing could add millions in economic benefits for the city.
But neighbors, who say the track produces too much noise already, told the board that they're opposed to the new event.
The board discussed Wigginton's request last month but did not vote, asking him to meet with more of the track's neighbors to explain the impact the races would have on the community.
While the track hosted two meetings to discuss the races and sought comments on the raceway's Web site, some neighbors said Wednesday they had not been notified about the meetings.
Paul van Orden, the city's noise control officer, proposed a large-scale noise study for all events at the track, following complaints from citizens. The board took no action on that proposal, which van Orden later said would require funding from the City Council.
Drag races can produce sounds reaching 130 decibels at 50 feet, or 10 decibels more than the human threshold for pain.
The raceway is owned by the city and operated by the Parks Bureau. It usually receives noise variances for four races each summer.
Stephen Beaven: 503-294-7663;
[email protected]
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