MINOT – The Planning Board’s recommendation that Hemond Moto-X Park be given until July to show it can come into compliance with the town’s noise ordinance didn’t sit well with some of the track’s neighbors.

“It’s too bad you people are allowing this to go on. It’s going to be embarrassing to this town,” said Center Minot Hill Road resident Richard Thayer.

The Planning Board Tuesday night made its recommendation, which selectmen had requested, following Gregory Cunningham’s presentation of Donald and Serae Hemond’s plans.

Cunningham handed board members a letter from Scott Bodwell, engineer for Resource Systems Engineering, which suggested that previous sound studies used a ‘pausing technique’ to record sound levels that would not accurately represent continuous motocross activity for a minute. The pausing technique was used to eliminate traffic noise on Route 119.

Bodwell wrote that his measurement of sound levels along Route 119 during racing on Aug. 24 “indicate that the majority of racing activity generated one-minute equivalent sound levels at or below the maximum permissible limit of 55 decibels.” Bodwell recommended that the Hemonds place hay bale sound barriers along critical stretches of the track to ensure compliance.

“It’s the Hemonds’ intent to bring the track fully within the limits of the ordinance,” said Cunningham.

Cunningham further indicated the Hemonds intend to install the sound barrier for next year’s racing season and are considering altering the track location with a portion of the track dropping in a low pocket in the field, to use natural barriers.

Cunningham also said the Hemonds will be seeking a site location permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Rebutting Cunningham’s claim that the Hemonds could cure their sound problem, Center Minot Hill resident Sue Champagne said, “Ambrose (a sound engineer hired by neighbors) said barriers are not effective and that the only thing that can be done is go get at the source of the noise.”

Cunningham noted that, while Champagne claimed the Hemonds were violating the noise ordinance with sound levels at her Center Minot Hill residence, to date there is no evidence of that.

Champagne countered that it didn’t matter whether the noise level was in compliance at her house if it was out of compliance elsewhere at a property line.

Planning Board Chairman John Geismar also questioned effectiveness of barriers.

John Gould made a motion to allow the Hemonds three months of racing in the spring. Geismar disagreed with the motion and was the only one to vote against it.

The board also accepted for review an application for a 12-lot subdivision located on Center Minot Hill Road. The subdivision, called Center Minot Heights by owners Dan Carroll and Curt Youland, will have lots ranging from 3 to 20 acres spread across 69 acres on a hill with a 218-foot vertical rise.

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