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of the Design Review Board for the Midtown Corridor, and has 7 years experience <br />of the Building and_Zoning Commission of a neighboring coirnnunity. The Ma.sonry <br />Institute's main function is provide information to the design commumity, <br />architects,, engineers, and cities. They have been dealing with highway sound <br />barriers for the Department of Transportation and have a good deal of information <br />on brick walls, both as a sound barrier and as an aesthetic feature. He had <br />docwnentation from Hartford University and an acoustical test laboratory in <br />Illinois both of which did extensive testing on different types of sound barrier <br />walls. He has doctunentation that the masonry wa11 absorbs sound more than any <br />other material, a wood wall can warp and also has openings, and if sound passes <br />through any opening it can be amplified. They found, that it would be better in <br />some situations, to have no wall at all because of tha.t amplification. There are <br />many examples of masonry sourid walls; Pavilion Ma.ll on Chagrin Boulevard has a <br />masonry sound wall built on,a mound that is 1,100 feet long and averaging 8 feet <br />high, (openings were placed in that mouncl to allow access requested by certain <br />individuals). The wall is constructed of a colored split face material with <br />colored mortar and cost $90.00 a linear foot. They also have other cost studies <br />of various types of walls. ;A masonry wall can be a C.M.U. unit, which could be <br />either a split face or a through the wall unit: There is a 6 inch through the <br />wall brick which is more economical to bia.ild on site than panelized brick that is <br />built elsewhere and brought'to-the site. He did not lmow if the height of the <br />mound could be lowered or if it was required, but any wall, properly designed <br />will not tip over, and if it does; it wauld be the fault of the engineer. He <br />advised that 300 feet of plantings would be needed to deal with any sound <br />effectivel-y.. The residents are interested in both aesthetics and the sound <br />absorption. If they are really interested in sound absorption, there is a <br />concrete masonry unit that is a sound block made by a sound block company with a <br />slit in it with the option of putting in a baffle. Several types of walls were <br />tested by the University of Hartford and that information could be made available <br />to Wal-Mart or the city. He advised that the wall at Pavilion Ma.ll was 8 inches <br />thick and Mr. Sohn believed that this would be sufficient. Mr. Darcy also,advised <br />that on highways the Interstate, 6 inch, Through-the-Wall had become very <br />popular. He further explained that there were several ways to go about the <br />construction; and each case had to be considered individually. In reference to <br />highway walls, Mr. --Darcy stated that with a wood wall, several things had to be <br />considered especially if it were subject to fire or flame. He concluded that the <br />person who designs the wall is held liable with the Environmental Protection <br />Agency so these concerns must be addressed. Mr. Palmamari, a member of the <br />audience, stated tha.t he owned two condomininms at Clareshire, and believed that <br />all the residents would prefer brick because of its durability. Ms. Montillas, <br />president of Clareshire Court Condominitnn Association, believed that the <br />commission and the boards are to serve. the co?munity, Wal-Mart `is 'not the <br />comrrn,,,; ty, the people who are in the conumn; ty should be heard. She has talked <br />with her attorney, and if a brick wall is not put up, and if there is ever a <br />problem .with a truck coming through or if there is any damage to their property, <br />there will be a'law suite to Wal-Mart and the people on the boards. She believed <br />that the wall is a safety consideration for residents, in the event that a truck <br />or car comes goes into someone's living room, or into the playground and causing <br />injury to a person. Mr. Skoulis, Park West Home Owners Association, believed that <br />Mr: Gallagher made a motion that Wal-Mart return with a new rendition that showed <br />a brick with character, he specif'ically said brick, nothing was mentioned about <br />concrete block. Mr. Zergott responded tha.t:the developer did come back with block <br />but, both he and Mr. Sohn ha.ve- stated that they prefer brick. Mr. Skoulis <br />believed that the people are entitled to a brick building with some character as <br />requested and believed that issue of brick should be settled now. Councilman