Household's benefit to hinge on map of noise projection

Sound-muffling improvements might include central air, insulation, and door and window replacement or repair.

By Steve Brandt, Star Tribune

Last update: October 16, 2007 - 9:33 AM

The proposed legal settlement on airport noise up for approval this week provides varying levels of noise-dampening assistance.

A household's benefit will depend on estimated airplane noise at the address under the 2007 map of noise projections.

The map that will govern the settlement, and addresses may be checked online here.

• An estimated 432 single-family homes in 63- and 64-decibel areas would get as much relief as more than 7,800 homes in 65-plus decibel areas were given in a program that ended in 2005.

The improvements to those homes might include central air conditioning, door and window replacement or repair, wall and attic insulation, and additional sound-muffling work. This work is to be done by the end of 2009.

• About 5,344 homes in the 60- to 62-decibel area would get one of two options by the end of 2012.

About 3,421 homes without air conditioning as of Sept. 1 would get that, plus up to $4,000 in noise-dampening modifications. That compares with air-conditioning plus $1,750 in the proposed settlement of the class-action lawsuit filed separately on behalf of 8,100 homeowners.

Owners of the other homes in that noise area who already have air conditioning or who don't want it could get up to $14,000 in noise-dampening modifications. That compares with $9,250 in the proposed class-action settlement.

Unlike under the class-action settlement proposal, attorney fees would not be deducted from those amounts, MAC spokesman Patrick Hogan said.

• About 1,931 apartment and condo units in buildings of four or more units would get permanent air conditioners with noise-dampening covers. This is slated to happen by the end of 2010.

• Another $7 million would be set aside for two groups of homeowners.

First claim on the money would go to properties where previous owners had elected not to participate, though their properties qualified for full noise abatement based on older noise maps.

About 200 new owners of those properties could opt in but would only get the noise-dampening level they're entitled to based on the 2007 map.

If that doesn't use up the entire $7 million, the remaining money would be split among 1,835 single-family homes that were in the 60- to 64-decibel group under a 2005 noise map, but that might not be in that noise area on the 2007 map.

Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438

Steve Brandt • sbrandt@startribune.com

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