Concordia Conservatory and parents press Iona on noise, access and communication

Officials from the Concordia Conservatory and multiple parents told the planning board they are not opposing the project but seek enforceable protections to maintain daily educational operations during construction and for game days.

Kathleen Suss, Concordias executive director, said the Conservatory has submitted letters on Dec. 22 and Jan. 13 and has not yet received a response. She and board members asked that Iona either resolve those concerns directly or that the board incorporate tenant protections into conditions of approval. Concordia board members and parents requested a minimum of 16 adjacent parking spaces during construction, advanced notice of disruptive construction activities, and a designated campus liaison.

Concordia panelists also presented audio examples to demonstrate the difference between background noise levels and hypothetical PA or crowd noise. One presenter cited a Kavanaugh Tochi memo and the Society for American Baseball Research, noting typical college-game crowd noise can range into the 90s dB; speakers urged noise limits tied to Conservatory instructional hours and clearer enforcement measures during construction and events.