[Originally published in the OTHER paper, Eugene, Oregon in  September, 1996.]

The City upped the Hyundai's noise level on August 6, granting the company its third noise variance, to run through December 31, 1996. In its continuing demonstration of good neighborliness, Hyundai had again requested permission for normal construction activity 24 hours a day, including noise from equipment with back-up beepers, construction and delivery vehicles, pneumatic hammers, generators, compressors, and excavation activity.

The second variance, which ended July 4, was granted despite many varied complaints not only from Hyundai's neighbors, but residents further away, who reported disturbance from the nighttime noise and lights. The City did deny the use of back-up beepers between 7pm and 7am, and restricted blasting, pile drivers, pneumatic hammers and half-ton trucks on W. 18th after 10 pm. The company wanted these restrictions lifted.

Hyundai, with a reported $70 billion in assets, maintains that restricting construction to daylight hours was an "unnecessary hardship," yet all construction projects bear the same "hardship." Maintaining that rapid construction will more quickly provide economic benefits to the community in the form of jobs and tax revenues, the City's latest decision barely acknowledges the disturbance to neighbors. It asserts that "without back-up beepers, applicant is severely limited," and that the economic benefits override the inconvenience to a few neighbors. The new variance allows back-up beepers to be used until midnight, pneumatic hammers and electric hoist operations around the clock.

Residents have again appealed the variance, and a hearing will be held Thursday, September 5, in the City Council Chambers. Long-time residents of McTavish Lane, the area most affected by the noise, are worn-out by both the noise and the process. Most are elderly, and while they have written a letter of protest, they will not appear at the hearing.