Omaha By Design: Omaha, Only Better

by Ken Mayer

I think one of the squirrels in my backyard needs a hearing aid. He scampers around normally, but seems to have some trouble hearing the other squirrels. The birds are starting to make fun of him.

I’m not surprised. Even though we now live just barely outside of downtown, to my surprise, it’s actually noisier here. After nearly 20 years of living in the central business district, we are accustomed to the occasional construction noise, heavy traffic, even the college kids partying after finals.

Little did I realize what would happen as I relaxed on my newly acquired deck with a lovely beverage. The cacophony cranked up – a chorus of lawn mowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers and weed whackers.

I used to knock firmly on the wall and the kids would turn down the music, but you can’t exactly ask the guy with the leaf blower to turn down the volume. Turns out, my annoyance is not without good cause. Noise is dangerous stuff.

Below are just few things you can get from too much noise, according to the World Health Organization.

• Sleep disturbance – Noise has been shown to be a factor in difficulty falling asleep; reduction in REM-sleep; increased blood pressure and heart rate; changes in respiration; cardiac arrhythmia and an increase in body movements.

• Cardiovascular and physiological problems – acute noise exposure activates the autonomic and hormonal systems, leading to temporary changes such as increased blood pressure and heart rate. After prolonged exposure, susceptible individuals may develop permanent effects, such as hypertension and ischaemic heart disease.

• Mental illness – noise isn’t thought to be a direct cause of mental illness, but it may accelerate and intensify the development of latent mental disorders. Studies on the adverse effects of noise point to anxiety; emotional stress; nervous complaints; nausea; headaches; instability; argumentativeness; sexual impotency; changes in mood; increase in social conflicts, as well as general psychiatric disorders such as neurosis, psychosis and hysteria.

• Antisocial behavior – while noise alone is not believed to be sufficient to produce aggression, combined with provocation or pre-existing anger or hostility, it may trigger it. It’s also possible that people are less willing to help one another during and after noise exposure.

• Speech communication disruption – noise interference with speech comprehension has been implicated in a large number of personal disabilities, handicaps and behavioral changes. Lack of concentration, fatigue, uncertainty and lack of self-confidence, irritation, misunderstandings, decreased working capacity, problems in human relations and a number of stress reactions have all been identified.

Early in the consultation process that led to Omaha By Design’s Urban Design Element, I asked Jonathan Barnett, urban planner from Wallace, Roberts, and Todd and the project’s leader, if the plan would address noise pollution and similar issues. He said no, but candidly added that urban planners weren’t trained in the area so they tended to ignore it.

Maybe it’s time we looked at the problem. Omaha has the adequate ordinances and, when enforced, will take care of the worst noise issues. But this is also a quality of public life issue.

It’s a part of being good neighbors and making our public spaces more pleasant and comfortable. I’m thinking I’ll get an electric lawnmower or maybe a couple of goats.