City weighs limit on toy-plane noise

A proposed noise restriction on toy airplanes rankled enthusiasts who said the rule would crash their aerial pastime at a North Las Vegas park.

City officials on Wednesday recommended limiting the planes' noise to 96 decibels at an altitude of 10 feet at McCool Regional Park's airfield.

The effort to curb toy-plane noise is in response to complaints by some neighbors. The City Council discussed the proposal and will vote on it a later meeting.

Hobbyists noted that a committee made up of neighbors and enthusiasts had agreed on a limit of 98 decibels at 25 feet. Several toy-plane aficionados said they already had spent hundreds of dollars altering their planes to meet the committee's proposed rule.

The tougher rule proposed by the city parks department would have the effect of shutting down the airfield because few planes could meet that standard, said Greg Minden, a toy-plane flier.

"We believe now there was never good faith in these negotiations," he said.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith questioned why city staff bucked the committee's recommendation.

"Why are we trying to create controversy when everyone was in agreement?" Smith said. "Why are we going to undermine that good work?"

Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.