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Here is the petition Sudie circulated about the noise and lights from Holton School.
Petition to the Richmond School Board
We the undersigned petition the Richmond City School Board to take immediate action to rectify the excessive noise and intrusive lighting that are emitted by the Linwood Holton School.
We all live near the intersection of Avondale Ave. and Monticello St. which is the focus of the intrusive noise and lights.
Linwood Holton School’s design and placement direct the noise from exposed ventilation systems, air conditioning systems, kitchen fans and the back-up generator directly at neighboring streets and homes. The noise pollution from these machines registers at least 61 decibels in neighbors’ yards and has reached decibel levels in excess of 71 when several systems are run concurrently. These noises are audible in people’s homes and prevent normal conversation in one’s own front yard. The noise has been reduced during evenings and weekends when the building is not in use. However, excessive noise levels continue 5am to 5pm Monday through Friday, frequent Saturdays when the School is open to host special events, and 5am to 5pm every Sunday now that the Linwood Holton School hosts church services. The excessive noise Linwood Holton School directs at its neighbors’ homes violates Chapter 18, Section 2a of the City of Richmond’s Noise Ordinance. This Ordinance stipulates:
- It shall be unlawful to create any unreasonably loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise in the city and noise of such a character, intensity and duration as to be detrimental to the life or health of any person or to unreasonably disturb or annoy the quiet, comfort or repose of any person is hereby prohibited.
We petition the Richmond City School Board to take immediate action to reduce the noises emitted by the Linwood Holton School or to immediately take steps to redirect the noises so that they no longer "disturb and annoy the quiet, comfort and repose" of the School’s neighbors. We further petition that if measures are taken to redirect the noise away from our homes, that the resulting structure and/or look of the edifice be formally reviewed by affected neighbors and the Bellevue Civic Association.
In addition, we petition the Richmond City School Board to reduce the negative impact of five halogen security lights that are mounted on the wall of Linwood Holton School facing Monticello Street. The glaring light emitted by these five fixtures intrudes upon neighboring homes and yards and overwhelms the softer glow of the street lamps requested by the neighborhood. We would be satisfied if the light from these five halogen fixtures is shielded away from neighboring homes or turned off altogether.
These petitions are submitted for your immediate review. We have already met with Dr. Pretlow, and she asserted several times in our meeting that a petition was the only means by which her office would consider addressing some of these issues. We have welcomed the Linwood Holton School to our neighborhood and ask that you, the Richmond City School Board, immediately act to make the new School a good neighbor.
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Last updated 02/24/02
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