Opposition to new ballparks usually falls along the lines of increased traffic and noise impacting local residents. That’s the case in Sugar Land, Texas, where a proposed Atlantic League ballpark should fall within city noise guidelines during a baseball game — but not for concerts.
Those are the findings of a consultant hired by the Sugar Land City Council to assess the impact of the ballpark on a residential area sitting a half-mile away from the proposed site at Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A. The noise created by a ballgame at its noisiest should reach 63 decibels — below the city limit of 65 decibels.
But concerts would be another matter. Not only would the noise levels exceed the 65-decibel limit, they would also create low-frequency sounds that are more easily heard inside.
These findings aren’t expected to impact the development of the ballpark for an independent Atlantic League team; the ballpark is expected to open for the 2012 season. The project is being funded by a local sales tax. A final decision on the ballpark site is expected during the Sept. 21 meeting of the council.
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