The ongoing problem of excessive airplane noise generated by flights coming out of Logan airport remains a subject of concern for both public officials and the public at large.

By Jim Clark

A meeting of the City of Somerville City Council’s Public Health and Public Safety Committee was held last month at the Somerville High School Auditorium where the topic of airplane noise in and around the city was addressed by city and state representatives, as well as members of the general public.

Committee Chair and Ward 4 Councilor Jesses Clingan led the portion of the meeting responding to the Council’s directive that the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) facilitate a community meeting about airplane noise and include information about how flight path decisions get made, what, if any, local leverage the city has, and how different neighborhoods are currently or potentially affected by noise.

Chair Clingan stated the Administration had asked for the public hearing meeting to address the issue of airplane noise, which has been a cause for complaint in the community for the last six years.

Clingan introduced the first presenter, Wig Zamore, who presented findings from a MIT report about flight paths, and stated the noise does not go straight down.

Tara Ten-Eyck, a resident from the 33L working group, did a brief presentation on airplane noises. She had gotten together with members from Belmont, Arlington, Medford and Cambridge to discuss the airplane noise problem. She met with a representative from Logan Airport who stated that Logan is a 24-hour business.

Councilor At-large Mary Jo Rossetti talked about a previous meeting in June held in Cambridge with a professor of aviation mechanical engineering from MIT that showed three options. Additionally, the working group was to report back to the Committee with a unified statement so that when the CAC met in October, there would be a unified message.

State Representative Denise Provost stated there had been a meeting with Watertown Representative Jonathan Heck who started 33L and that better data would be coming soon. The 33L requested more noise data and within three to four weeks MIT will have much more data within a tenth of a mile.

Several other state representatives such as Christine Barber, Michael Connolly, and State Senator Pat Jehlen spoke and shared their concerns about the airplane noise.

Comments from the approximately 20 residents who shared their thoughts about the airplane noise during the public hearing included:

• A resident who moved to the city five years ago is unable to entertain due to the airplane noises.
• There is jet exhaust that comes through some resident’s window.
• There are very serious and stressful public health issues, especially for those who work long hours.
• TV transmissions are scrambled every few minutes due to the airplanes flying overhead.
• Massport is growing out of control and people are getting sick.
• Some resident’s houses shake when planes fly over their homes.
• One resident wants to leave due to the noise from the airplanes. Also, they cannot hear people sitting 18 inches from them with the windows open.
• Some residents complained of not being able to sleep at night due to the noise.
• There are true health concerns associated with the noise such as diabetes, asthma, and obesity and hearing impairment.
• Unfair, overburdened people in certain areas.
• Airplanes are so close that some people say they can count the windows on the planes.
• A resident uses an air conditioner to help drown out the airplane noise.
• State representatives should get funding to find a solution on the noise pollution.
• A new resident would like to start a family, but may move away from Somerville due to the noise.

There were written communications submitted that were read at the meeting and submitted for the record.

Results of the meeting were kept in Committee for further review and action.