CANFIELD Decibels in fun are just blast to others

Residents have collected 50 signatures on a petition opposing a family fun center on state Route 46.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- Seventy-five decibels. That's the level of sound made by an outboard motor, loud cars, or someone shouting at you from 3 feet away.
It's also the level of sound that Jeff Schrum will be allowed to make on the family fun center he's planning to build on state Route 46 near Western Reserve Road in Canfield Township. The center is slated to include a miniature golf course, a bike storage facility and a go-cart track.
Under township noise regulations, Schrum must ensure that no more than 75 decibels are audible at the border of the 7-acre fun center site. Schrum, who lives just north of the fun center property, said the go-carts will make "way below" 75 decibels.
"They're quieter than a lawnmower, and after 150 feet you can't hear them," he said.
Neighbors nervous
Some of the residents who live near the proposed site of the fun center, however, don't share Schrum's confidence.
"It's going to be louder than that," said Lori Clark, who lives adjacent to the fun center property. "I just know there's going to be a lot of noise."
Last week, Clark and other township residents circulated petitions asking township officials not to allow Schrum to build the center. The township trustees and board of zoning appeals will conduct a joint meeting at 7 p.m. Monday to discuss the proposed facility.
Clark said that so far, about 50 signatures have been collected from residents in the sparsely populated area near the fun center.
"Everyone I asked signed it and said they were opposed to it," she said.
Residents along state Route 46 also recently received a bright-orange flyer stating that "go-cart tracks are extremely noisy!
"The sound will carry for miles. Noise pollution is very harmful!" the flyer states. It was not signed.
Residents call
The flyer also listed the number of township hall. Township Zoning Inspector Dave Morrison said as a result of the flyer, he has receivedabout six calls, mostly from residents seeking more information about the family fun center. Most of the residents were not angry about the center proposal, Morrison said.
A few of the residents said Friday that they had spoken to Schrum and believed the family fun center wouldn't be too loud. Others, however, were worried that the noise might affect the rural atmosphere along the road.
"It's probably not something I want in my neighborhood," said Jen Ambrosia, who keeps horses on her state Route 46 property. "Generally, horses and go-carts don't mix." Ambrosia added that she wasn't opposed to Schrum's building a miniature golf course or bicycle storage facility on the property.
Schrum said the storage facility would allow local residents to keep their bicycles close to the Mill Creek MetroParks bike path, which is adjacent to the west side of the family fun center property. Public parking for the bike path also would be permitted in a fun center parking lot.
The property is about a quarter-mile north of land that is slated to be the site of the All-Star Sports Complex, an 86-acre facility that would include indoor and outdoor sports fields.
At a meeting on June 3, several local residents asked the township board of zoning appeals not to grant a zoning variance that would pave the way for the construction of the complex, which is unrelated to the family fun center.
For and against
About 50 people showed up at the June 3 meeting to ask questions about the complex. Some supported the project, but others were opposed. After hearing from the residents, the board decided to delay the decision on the variance until June 20.
Morrison said the board wanted more details about the complex, including traffic counts and environmental impact statements, before making a decision. He added that township officials will treat plans for the family fun center and sports complex as separate proposals, even though they are slated to be located in the same area.
Trustees Judy Bayus and Paul Moracco said they didn't want to comment on the family fun center proposal before Monday's meeting.
The center would be in an area zoned for industry. Township regulations require the board of zoning appeals and the trustees to approve industrial development.
"If it's good for the community, it should be [approved]," Morrison said, adding "noise pollution is something that's taken into consideration."
EPA contacted
James Yanacos, a state Route 46 resident and Clark's father, said he's worried about both noise and environmental pollution from the family fun center. He said opponents of the facility have contacted the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers in an effort to have the seven-acre property protected as wetlands.
State route 46 resident Dardo Torti also said he was concerned about the environment in the area, as well as the noise and additional traffic from the family fun center.
"To have a racetrack next to your home, I don't think you'd be happy with that," he said.
Schrum stressed that he also lives near the proposed site of the family fun center, and that "I don't want to do anything to degrade the neighborhood and cause a nuisance." He added that he thinks the family fun center could make a popular stop for families riding the bike path.
"I'm looking for the families to come out here and have a good time," he said.
hill@vindy.com