Experts confirm Ford Amphitheater is blasting nearby homes with noise pollution as high as 80 dBA—well in excess of the 50 dBA legal limit

Colorado Springs, Colo., Sept. 4, 2024 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Independent experts retained by Northside Neighbors Association to monitor noise from Ford Amphitheater confirm that nearby homes are being hit with noise levels in excess of the 50 dBA legal limit—in some cases, as high as 80 dBA.

The analysis was performed by acoustics and noise control engineers at Dudek, a nationally recognized environmental planning and engineering firm. Dudek’s expertise includes assessment and mitigation of environmental noise impacts in dense communities, such as the heavily residential northside of Colorado Springs.

Dudek measured noise levels during Ford’s opening week at nine short-term (ST) and two long-term (LT) residential locations surrounding the venue. At every location, event-generated noise levels exceeded 50 dBA for some period during Ford’s events that week.

During Ford’s “soft open” on August 6, noise levels were in the 60-80 dBA range at the Polaris Junction apartment homes next to the venue (LT1). For homes in the Grey Hawk neighborhood to the northeast (LT2), noise levels exceeded 50 dBA for about two hours (8 to 10 pm) ) and were 7 dBA above levels during the same time period the next night when there was no event.

For the August 11 OneRepublic concert, average noise levels exceeded 50 dBA and were above background levels at four residential locations, including homes more than a mile from the venue. Again, Polaris Junction bore the brunt of noise pollution: noise levels exceeded 75-80 dBA for significant portions of the event, particularly from about 7 to 9 pm.

Colorado state law limits noise in residential zones to 50 dBA after 7:00 p.m. Colorado Springs has a noise ordinance that imposes the same limit. Dudek’s analysis confirms that Ford repeatedly exceeded the 50 dBA limit during opening-week events.

Citizen noise measurements, which show noise levels in excess of 50 and 60 dBA in nearby neighborhoods such as Serenity Park and Northgate Estates, confirm Dudek’s results. Many of these can be viewed at Northside Neighbors’ active Instagram page.

Sound is measured using a non-linear logarithmic scale. Each 10 dBA increase represents a tenfold increase in sound energy and a doubling of perceived loudness. Thus, compared to the legal limit of 50 dBA, 60 dBA is ten times the sound energy and twice as loud; 70 dBA is one hundred times the sound energy and four times as loud; and 80 dBA is one thousand times the sound energy and eight times as loud.

When Ford events impact nearby homes at 80 dBA, residents are experiencing sound energy that is a thousand times over the legal limit.

The City of Colorado Springs gave Ford an “noise hardship permit” that contains no upper limit on noise levels. Northside Neighbors Association contends in its pending lawsuit that the permit violates state law.

The permit also violates the City’s own noise ordinance. The ordinance requires excess-noise permits to be issued (1) by the Mayor, (2) for a “temporary duration,” and (3) only after finding that certain conditions are met. But Ford’s permit wasn’t issued by the Mayor. Instead, it was issued by a police department employee, who didn’t make any of the findings required by law.

Nor is the permit temporary. Internally, the City calls it a “blanket” permit. It covers every Ford event for all of 2024. And Northside Neighbors Association has obtained internal emails suggesting that city employees plan to grant Ford blanket permits just like this year after year after year, allowing Ford to operate free of state and local noise limits indefinitely.

In practical effect, through these annual “blanket” permits, the City has legislated an exception to its noise ordinance specifically for Ford. But the City didn’t follow any kind of legal or democratic process. Citizens weren’t notified. There were no public hearings. No revised ordinance was drawn up. City Council never voted on anything.

Correcting this mistake should be top priority for the Mayor and City Council. The permitting process for Ford should comply with the law, and it should be public and transparent. At the very least, the amphitheater should be held to the 50 dBA legal limit.

Dudek’s measurements predate Ford concerts that occurred the following week (August 16-18) and triggered hundreds more noise complaints. The measurements also don’t include Gleneagle, which appears to be an area especially impacted by noise pollution from Ford events. Further analysis is needed to determine long-term impacts of different kinds of events on all surrounding communities.

Northside Neighbors Association is a § 501(c)(3) nonprofit association of residents committed to improving quality of life and promoting balanced development in northern Colorado Springs and surrounding areas. The Association is releasing Dudek’s noise analysis in conjunction with this press release.