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Noise <br />An increase of noise in the area around a child care home is <br />the most often expressed concern. Studies in Oakland, <br />California, and in the Maryland suburbs surrounding <br />Washington, D.C., both found that noise was not a <br />significant problem. A 1987 Maryland study found that <br />neighbors did not report any significant increase in noise <br />levels. The noise from a child care home is the same noise <br />made by any family with children. Often, neighbors playing <br />music, repairing equipment, or taking care of their lawns <br />make more noise than that generated by the children in a <br />child care hone. Because licensing requirements usually <br />require some type of fencing, the home has some additional <br />noise buffer. Finally, in the case of a real noise problem, <br />local noise and nuisance laws provide enforceable standards. <br />Traffic <br />Despite complaints that traffic will increase considerably <br />if child care homes are allowed, there is no evidence to <br />support such a claim. A 1987 study conducted by the <br />Maryland - National Capital Park and Planning Commission found <br />that over 94 percent of the neighbors of child care <br />facilities who responded to the survey indicated that <br />traffic had increased only slightly or not at all since the <br />centers were established. Since the facilities in the <br />survey served up to 20 children (far more than the maximum <br />of 12 usually allowed in large child care homes), these <br />findings are especially important. The consultants found <br />that "no significant backup of cars picking up or delivering <br />children were observed ", and "the amount of traffic <br />generated at each facility was minimal and the distribution <br />of traffic was even throughout the day ". A 1987 Salem, <br />Oregon, traffic study of a child care facility serving 20 <br />children at the end of a cul -de -sac also found that there <br />was no significant traffic impact. Again, this is <br />especially revealing because this situation, at least on the <br />surface, would seem to naturally strain the street's <br />capacity. <br />From American Planning Association <br />Planning Advisory Service Report 422 <br />December, 1989 <br />EXHIBIT B <br />Page 8 <br />