Laserfiche WebLink
ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – December 3, 2025 5 <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen deferred this question to the applicant, but noted several noise studies <br />have been completed by the applicant and the applicant was meeting the City’s noise standard <br />requirements. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Reilly commented on the City’s rules for noise noting the <br />rules are applied at the property line. He indicated MPCA rules do not have jurisdiction over this <br />project or in Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Chair Collins stated there has been continuous concerns regarding noise at this Boston <br />Scientific building since 2021. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Reilly explained he does not have a record of complaints <br />made to the City, but has record of complaints that were made when projects come before the <br />Planning Commission and City Council. <br /> <br />Chair Collins inquired if the City had completed its own study to ensure Boston Scientific was <br />compliant. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen indicated the City has not completed a noise study, but has instituted <br />conditions on Boston Scientific to complete noise studies annually. <br /> <br />Chair Collins referred to Attachment F, stating a neighborhood comment notes that in 2024, <br />Boston Scientific was out of compliance at certain hours. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen reported the City does keep record of this. She understood that in 2023 <br />Boston Scientific was out of compliance and steps were taken to address this concern. <br /> <br />Chair Collins asked if the applicant had verified that the proposed sound wall would create a <br />noise reduction at the property line. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen deferred this question to the applicant. She recalled from the <br />neighborhood meeting that different wall heights were tested in order to see how sounds could be <br />mitigated from Building 14. <br /> <br />Chair Collins questioned what the City’s noise standards were in City Code. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Reilly explained after reviewing City Code, the City does <br />not have a noise standard established but rather references MPCA guidelines. <br /> <br />Chair Collins stated this meant Boston Scientific was to be no louder than 60 decibels during <br />the day and 58 decibels at night. <br /> <br />Commissioner Birken requested Boston Scientific speak to the results from the recent sound <br />study. <br /> <br />Savannah Door, Facilities Maintenance Manager at Boston Scientific, explained the July 2025 <br />sound study had the receiver placed on the trail. She reported there were some levels above 50, <br />but the MPCA rules require for one hour to be below 50, which was shown in the table. <br /> <br />Commissioner Birken inquired who owned the trail property.