Train Noise Still Dogs Development

Developers of Camarillo’s 211-acre Pitts Ranch housing development will be able to build some houses near the railroad tracks, but not before they determine how to muffle the train cacophony.

City Council members expressed reservations Wednesday over a proposed 31-acre portion of the development because 12 of the 153 houses in that area will lie 97 to 137 feet from the middle of the tracks.

The entire project will eventually contain about 900 houses.

In order to adequately muffle the noise of freight, Amtrak and Metrolink trains, which run past the development about eight to 10 times per day, Pardee Construction plans to build a 15-foot-high sound wall.

“One of the things we don’t want to look like . . . is a wall city,� Councilman Mike Morgan said.

Morgan added that he was concerned that two of the 12 houses will be only 97 feet from the tracks and accused Pardee of “trying to jam in two more houses simply for profit.�

Indeed, prices will not be lowered on those two houses, said project manager John Osgood. Instead, Pardee will add dual pane windows and additional drywall.

Council members requested Aug. 27 that Pardee obtain a noise report; Osgood submitted a study that had been conducted more than two years ago.

“As it turns out, this noise report was conducted on a Saturday afternoon,� Councilwoman Charlotte Craven said.

“I want an effort made to conduct a real noise study during the week and not the weekend, when it seems like they were going out of their way to do it when there is as little noise as possible.�

Before approving the tract plans, council members stipulated that Pardee must submit a new noise report and final plans for the sound wall. Construction is scheduled to begin next month.

“There will be noise this close to the tracks, but it has to be a buyer-beware sort of thing,� Councilman Kevin Kildee said.