At the June 1st Planning and Zoning Commission Hearing, we heard quite a lot of testimony about the engine noise from Double Gate ATV Park on their “sound test weekend” May 15-16. On that weekend, there were 250 ATVs operating on the site. Neighbors up to 3 miles away and closer reported hearing the engine noise, while some right in the village said they heard nothing. No decibel readings were submitted by the applicant, so the sound issue has been reduced to a matter of differing opinions.
We would like to help clear up the confusion.
Sound Calculations?
Growth Services recommended that the County restrict the ATV sound to 65 decibels at the property line from 7 am until 10 pm, and 55 decibels all other times. Here’s the problem:
“Loud ATV exhaust noise has become an issue both medically and environmentally. The threshold of permanent hearing damage, as set by the OSHA, is 85 dB. A gas-powered lawn mower produces 85 dB. The snowmobile industry cannot, under U.S. law, exceed 78 dBs at full throttle, and since 1979 motorcycle manufacturers must stay between 78 and 84 dB. However, most ATVs are between 85 and 100 dBs, which has led to concerns by both riders and non-riders about excessive noise.” – How to Quiet ATV Exhaust Noise (A Practical Guide) from bettersoundproofing.com
How does one reduce the noise to 65 decibels at the property line? The answer is distance, but how much distance? Here’s a guideline:
“Doubling the distance between the highway and residence will result in a noise level reduction of approximately 4.5 decibels, depending on the surface composition over which the noise is traveling.” – Traffic Noise Fact Sheet by KeepSanDiegoMoving.com.
So, at 50 feet from the property line, 95 decibels becomes 91. At 100 feet, it is 87. At 200 feet, it is 84 – at the threshold for permanent hearing damage. The applicant is asking for a 100 foot buffer while the County is asking for 200 feet. At either distance, just one ATV breaks the sound restrictions. Now add 499 more ATVs. The applicant stated in the P&Z Hearing that they expected 500 to 750 ATVs on the property on a given weekend. Add in the fact that they will be dispersed all over the property, on the race trails and at the drag strip. Add in the fact that, ten weekends per year, there will be organized events with an amplified sound system/loudspeakers.
Sound Barriers?
The Traffic Noise Fact Sheet states that trees are not effective at blocking noise unless they are planted closely together and at least 100 feet thick. Earthen barriers must be above the line of sight in order to be effective. The six-foot berm proposed for the ATV drag strip in the Double Gate Project is not nearly high enough, and only covers one side of the strip.
Sound Thinking?
The size and shape of the Double Gate Property makes it very difficult to achieve allowable noise levels at the property line. The size of the buffers needed would significantly reduce the options for trails. Add in the reality that they have committed to fence off the wetlands on the property, and we have to wonder if race trails will even be possible? Add to that the cost of constructing a much higher berm for the drag strip and all of the environmental and sound studies, and it would seem wise to rethink the business model.
Now let’s take one step back and examine what it would be like to live in Flemington, even if Double Gate ATV Park can obtain the County’s allowable levels of noise. Nobody is saying it won’t be heard. Between 65 and 70 decibels is somewhere between the sound of traffic noise and the sound of a conversation. Every weekend, all day. It will be heard by residents as they play in their yards or in the Community Park. It will be heard by farmers in their fields and by all the animals, both wild and domestic. Some will hear it more than others, with those who are downwind and downslope hearing more from a greater distance. The prevailing winds in this part of Florida are out of the west. Nobody can argue that there will be no sound.
There is much that can be done to the ATVs themselves to modify their noise, but these solutions can be costly and usually affect performance making them unpopular for racing. Take a look at the average decibel levels for after-market exhausts typically used for ATV racing. It is certainly possible to require that all ATVs have appropriate silencing equipment in order to use Double Gate ATV Park, but it’s hard to imagine filling the place with 500 to 750 ATVs each weekend that all have that equipment. Once again, is this a practical business model?
We are not sound engineers, but we believe that there’s enough here to warrant further questioning. The concerns voiced by the community at the P&Z Hearing about ATV noise from the proposed Double Gate Park are…
well…
sound.
We at Horse Farms Forever like ATVs. Many of us own and enjoy them. We support family-oriented outdoor recreation, just like the Double Gate ATV Park applicants. Our concern continues to be about the location of the subject property:
Our message continues to be the same as our mission:
We ask that the Farmland Preservation Area be respected and protected. Once it's erased, it can't be replaced.
We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members' interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County's 193,000 acre Farmland Preservation Area.
Join the herd. Every voice matters.
Thank you to everyone who showed up at last night’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The room was past capacity with a rotating line of speakers waiting patiently outside to be heard. Busy Shires Byerly, our Director of Conservation Strategies, spoke for Horse Farms Forever. Here are her comments.
After 3 hours of respectful and insightful public commentary on both sides of the issue, the Planning & Zoning Commission voted as follows:
The Board stated that a key factor influencing their decision was the fact that the subject property is IN THE FARMLAND PRESERVATION AREA. We are happy that this message was heard loud and clear.
These non-binding recommendations now go before the Board of County Commissioners on June 17th. As was stated many times last night, this Planning & Zoning meeting was a dress rehearsal. Community voices are even more important at the next meeting. We will be preparing to advocate clearly for the protection of farmland, environment and community character.
Thank you for joining us last night and please plan to come to the June 17th meeting, 2pm.
We at Horse Farms Forever like ATVs. Many of us own and enjoy them. We support family-oriented outdoor recreation, just like the Double Gate ATV Park applicants. Our concern continues to be about the location of the subject property:
Our message continues to be the same as our mission:
We ask that the Farmland Preservation Area be respected and protected. Once it's erased, it can't be replaced.
We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members’ interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County.
Join the herd. Every voice matters.
The Zoning Hearing is TONIGHT, June 1st, 5:30pm. Here’s the agenda.
In just two weeks, Horse Farms Forever has received a groundswell of letters and comments from Flemington area residents opposing the Double Gate ATV Park. We will be bringing these before the County in tonight’s non-binding Zoning Hearing.
Here is our letter requesting that the Zoning Commission DENY the project.
Now it’s your turn. Zoning and Planning MUST hear from the community.
We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members’ interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County.
Join the herd. Every voice matters.
On May 28, 2020, at 12:55 PM
Ms. Dinkins,
As owner of Sweet Dixie South, LLC, I am concerned about the proposed amendment to the comprehensive plan for an increase in the size of the existing rural activity center and the request for a special use permit for the ATV Racetrack, Paintball and other activities on the property located at the corner of N329/W318 in the quiet community of Flemington.
We realize these types of parks have a history of disrupting local lifestyles and the general atmosphere of the rural community due to their generation of noise and traffic. These parks seem to evoke an increase of littering, and police arrests . We have additional concern as to the detrimental impact these activities would have to the ground waters in or on the nearby flood zones.
Sweet Dixie South is a 160 acre “Jumper and Three Day Event” training farm located less than 1000 feet to the west of the proposed facility. We are very concerned about the volume of the noise and odors from exhaust created by this park. The proposed activities may be very disruptive to ourselves and other adjoining training facilities for the continuance of our established equine disciplines.
We also stand by the fact and believe the proposed facility does not support or promote the Farmland Preservation Area. We discourage any approval by the Marion County Commission to allow this intrusive proposal into the quiet community of Flemington, which is steeped In the tradition of equine culture.
Michael Campbell
Sweet Dixie South
We at Horse Farms Forever like ATVs. Many of us own and enjoy them. We support family-oriented outdoor recreation, just like the Double Gate ATV Park applicants. Our concern continues to be about the location of the subject property:
Our message continues to be the same as our mission:
We ask that the Farmland Preservation Area be respected and protected. Once it's erased, it can't be replaced.
We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members’ interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County.
Join the herd. Every voice matters.
Check out this bright and inspiring video of the Ocala Horse Parade, 2020. Brought to you by Horse Farms Forever, the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership, and Strategic Drone Services. Enjoy!
Help us to protect what’s unique about Marion County and ensure that its Farmland Preservation Area will always be there to welcome horses, agriculture and the rural way of life.
Join us. Like our horses, we are stronger together.
Ocala Jockey Club
8720 W. Highway 318
Reddick, FL 32686
www.OcalaJC.com
May 28, 2020
To Whom It May Concern:
The Ocala Jockey Club strongly opposes the proposed plans by Double Gate ATV Racetrack and Recreation to create an ATV track, trails, RV park and other amenities as part of their Special Use Permit application. We support Horse Farms Forever in their mission to protect the designated Farmland Preservation Area. The subject property, and our farm are located within the Farmland Preservation Area. We are a 954-acre horse farm and residential community located 0.75 miles from the subject property.
We believe that preserving the integrity of horse farmland is an important value for Ocala’s standing in the world as the “Horse Capital of the World”. Even in the face of the allure of short-term economic gain for one property, this is a poor tradeoff to allow at the expense of its neighbors and the overall character of the Farmland Preservation Area. Once the character of the land is lost, it is next to impossible to get it back. This dynamics has played out in other locations in the world, and it is up to the wisdom of those in charge of land use approvals to protect Marion County’s special character for generations to come.
When my husband and I searched for respite from the bustle of New York City over fourteen years ago, we first visited the Wellington area. We were impressed with the quality of equine facilities there but it felt cramped, luxurious but missing farmland character. After making the drive from there to Marion County, there was no comparison between Ocala’s equine paradise where horses could still roam free in vast quiet pastures among beautiful old growth oak trees. The county boasts an equine paradise, and it deserves to be preserved.
The Ocala Jockey Club created the Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event starting in 2016 and it has quickly grown into an event beloved by top eventing riders, earning the honors to host the 2020 and 2021 CCl4*-L National Championships and to function as the only Olympic Games qualifying 3-Day eventing competition in the Southeast. It has provided up to $1 million annually in economic impact to Marion County, and sure to grow beyond that number in future years. My husband and I were very cognizant from the start to honor the existing land and its contours, even choosing a grass competition arena rather than all-weather footing typically used in horse show venues. This Event was to showcase the unique features of our farm and our County, and to help visitors appreciate the unique beauty and features of Marion County. We feel strongly about maintaining the horse farm character during our ownership and into the future, respecting the unique and special feel of the County. Our farm does not allow motorcycles on our farm due to noise and potential of horses spooking. The proposed ATV track would be just 0.75 miles from our farm. The resulting noise and traffic due to visitors would be detrimental to horse farm activities and interfere with the quiet intention of the Farmland Preservation Area and its horses, human residents and abundant wildlife.
We respectfully request the request for the Special Use Permit and Comprehensive Plan amendment be denied.
Thank you,
Pavla Nygaard
President and Owner, Ocala Jockey Club
Neighbors to the proposed project are coming out in strong opposition. Rest assured that we are working hard to ensure that the County sees every letter we receive. We will be sharing them with you in this space every day for the next couple of weeks. If you want to make a difference, please show up either online or in person at the Zoning Hearing, June 1, 5:30pm, and the Commissioners Hearing, June 17, 2:00pm, and email your comments to Growth Services and the County Commissioners!
We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members’ interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County.
Join the herd. Every voice matters.