Noise a Growing Concern for Roseville Speedway Neighbors

The noise from the All American Speedway has caused quite a stir. Monday evening, a

Some commenters said the speedway is so loud it limits their outside activity at home, while others recognized the business, entertainment and jobs the speedway brings to the city.

Located at the off Washington Boulevard, the is one of the fair association’s largest and most lucrative events, along with the county fair, according to Joan Bartosik, chief executive officer of the Placer County Fair Association.

Bartosik said in 2009, the fair association received approximately $200,000 from the state and generated about $12 million that went into the surrounding communities. Racing brings jobs, customers to local restaurants and businesses, and visitors to local hotels, Bartosik said.

“Its roots run very deep into our community,” she said.

Placer County District 1 Supervisor Jack Duran hosted the public forum and said the speedway noise has been an issue since the start of his tenure on the board. A grand jury report released Feb. 1 addressed the issues and determined that speedway improvements in 2007 were not approved by the county, according to an earlier Roseville Press Tribune article.

Currently, the Placer County Fair Association and the county are working on an operating agreement that will establish a relationship between the two groups to conduct annual fairgrounds management and maintenance, said Mary Dietrich, assistant director of the Placer County Department of Facility Services.

Don Lunsford, director of the Placer County Fair Association, jokingly said he heads up the “complaint department.”

Lunsford said the association has been working with Luke Saxelby with J.C. Brennan and Associates to conduct sound reviews.

The sound reviews have found that in some nearby neighborhoods, the noise levels have gone down 50 percent after improvements to the PA system and the installation of sound walls, but at other sites, the sound has increased, according to the data.

Another sound review is set for October and further sound-blocking measures are being considered.

“At the end of the day, we need to keep the fairgrounds running, but at the same time, we have to be a good neighbor,” Lunsford said.

What are the next steps?

• Aug. 15 – Held a community forum
• October – Additional sound review of All American Speedway races by J.B. Brennan & Associates
• December – Circulation of environmental studies
• January/February – Board of Supervisors consideration

What has been done about noise?

• New and improved sound walls installed
• New PA system installed with directionally oriented speakers
• Cars required to observe strict sound limits lower than those observed by most tracks
• Making efforts to stop racing by 10 p.m. (Current contract allows racing until 11 p.m.)

What further modifications can be done?

• Fill in holes in sound walls with plexiglass
• Work to schedule longer and louder races earlier in the evening
• Make more improvements to PA system
• Look into further car and sound options