The Blue Valley High School in Johnson County, KS, is requesting a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) so it can replace its outdated sound system with a new one at the football stadium. Neighbors and the school have been negotiating over this issue for over a year.

The school has already gotten the approval of the Oxford Township Zoning Board (TZB) on an earlier proposal. The TZB recommended the Johnson County Board of Commissioners approve the system, but with the caveat that something be done about the proposed new limit of 67dBA beyond the school boundaries. [Click on picture for larger image of sound levels.]

The new proposal [this .pdf link is for 650kb] is for a quieter system.

All Overland Park schools currently have a limit of 60dBA beyond school boundaries for sound systems. Neighbors had argued strenuously that the new Conditional Use Permit not create a new, higher limit of 67dBA.

To emphasize their opposition to a new standard, neighbors gathered signatures of residents who own more than 20% of the land within 1000 feet of the high school on a legal protest petition. If validated, this means 4 of 5 Commissioners must approve the CUP for it to take effect.

Blue Valley High School and the surrounding neighbors have a history of successfully working through noise related issues. Based on the newest proposal and its accompanying sound analysis, neighbors are supporting the replacement of the current sounds system with this new one.

However, neighbors oppose any language in the CUP which would state the High School could raise the volume of the new sound system above 60dBA beyond the school boundaries. At the same time, neighbors recognize that such sound levels may occasionally be reached. Based on the positive history of working through sound issues, this would not be a problem to resolve on a case by case basis.

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