Entering the Quiet Zone: Noise Compatible Land Use Planning

Several types of costs that need to be considered before a community undertakes noise compatible land use planning. The following is a summary of costs that communities and developers can expect:

• Local governments may need to fund administrative costs for including noise compatible land use standards in their guidelines and ordinances.
• Developers may bear a cost for design alternatives that result in fewer homes (or the same number of homes, if denser development is allowed).
• Developers may incur costs for using different materials in construction that are more sound-absorbent than traditional materials. In many instances, however, these costs can be offset by an increase in rental or sales rates, resulting from the reduced effects of highway traffic noise. When developers set a standard for sensitivity and high quality in initial construction, these actions can contribute to long-term value.

Windowless rear exterior; fence to bottom of first floor rooflines.

Why Noise Compatible Land Use? Because it . . .

• Improves community character
  • Protects neighborhood from highway noise.
  • Eliminates restrictive, "hemmed-in" feeling created by noise walls.
  • Reduces complaints about noise from highway neighbors.
• Frees money for other highway needs
• Provides value now and later
  • Enhances commercial and retail visibility and easy access to the highway.
  • Improves aesthetics.
  • Designing quieter structures helps to secure current and increase future property value.
• Complies with changing Federal requirements
  • Recent legislation often prohibits most Federal funding of noise barriers next to existing highway