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<br /> <br />Veneklasen Associates <br />Consultants in Acoustics | Noise | Vibration | AV | IT <br /> <br /> <br />1711 Sixteenth Street • Santa Monica California 90404 • tel: 310.450.1733 • fax: 310.396.3424 • www.veneklasen.com <br /> <br />October 28, 2024 <br /> <br />Wold Architects & Engineers <br />332 Minnesota St., Suite W2000 <br />Saint Paul, MN 55101 <br /> <br />Attention: Matthew M. Mohr, AIA | Associate <br /> <br />Subject: New Lake Elmo Elementary School Noise Study <br />Lake Elmo, Minnesota <br /> Property Noise Measurement Summary <br /> Veneklasen Project No. 8512-002 <br /> <br />Dear Matthew: <br /> <br />Veneklasen Associates, Inc. (Veneklasen) provides the following property acoustical measurement summary and <br />analysis as compared to the applicable State of Minnesota noise codes for the subject project. The proposed project is <br />planned due east of the existing Oakdale Gun Club in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. Given that measurements were not <br />completed during the peak operational time of year for the club, additional acoustical analyses were conducted to <br />estimate potential increases in measured noise levels for increases in club activities. This report documents our <br />findings. <br />Executive Summary <br />The subject project is proposed to be constructed on a corner lot directly due east, and to share a property line with, <br />the existing Oakdale Gun Club, both located in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. The intention of this study was to determine <br />whether existing activities from the gun club as measured at the proposed project property, as well as other planned <br />outdoor activity areas for the school and at the westernmost portion of the school building, would comply with the <br />applicable State noise codes. <br /> <br />An acoustical measurement survey was conducted to collect data from gun club activities at various areas of acoustic <br />sensitivity, as defined by the appropriate codes. This data was analyzed and compared against allowable property <br />noise level limits and determined to be compliant without additional mitigation. <br /> <br />Further analysis was conducted to evaluate the anticipated noise level increases resulting from increased activity as <br />well as the effects that higher-caliber firearms have on measured noise levels. These results were also compared to <br />applicable code requirements and found to be compliant without additional mitigation. <br /> <br />In summary, existing noise levels from the gun club as well as anticipated noise from increased use at busiest time <br />meet the Code requirements and do not require the Lake Elmo Elementary School to implement any noise mitigation <br />measures to be compliant with the state noise code requirements. <br />Noise Criteria <br />The City of Lake Elmo has no specific criteria for property noise relating to firearms, shooting ranges, or gun clubs. Nor <br />does it include any explicit prohibition of noise beyond subjective language. In instances such as this, it is appropriate <br />to defer to the county or state codes. <br /> <br /> Typically, this would solely be the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Chapter 7030 “Noise Pollution <br />Control”. However, the Minnesota Statutes 2023 Chapter 87A “Shooting Ranges” document has specific criteria that <br />apply to shooting ranges and the like that explicitly modify the MPCA noise criteria. Both of these criteria are <br />explained further below. <br />