Board aiming to quiet the noise

By Justin Faulconer

Published: August 27, 2008

Amherst County officials are considering a new noise ordinance that has “more teeth” than current laws, said County Attorney J. Vaden Hunt.

Hunt examined the proposed ordinance at the Board of Supervisors Aug. 19 meeting and asked them to give a “first reading” in September, which gives supervisors time to review the language and make any further comments.

In response to complaints from residents of Old Town Madison Heights, supervisors in July stressed the need to craft a more restrictive noise law, but in doing so focusing on residential neighborhoods rather than the county’s more rural areas.

The county has a noise law, but Hunt said it pertains only to amplified music and confuses sheriff’s deputies as they deal with other situations. Sheriff Jimmy Ayers, in correspondence with Hunt, said that they don’t have a “quantifiable level” as to what is too loud and sometimes hesitate to write tickets.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit people and pets from surpassing a noise level of 65 decibels, a common standard that Hunt said exists throughout the state, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

“This new proposed ordinance will solve the problems the county is having, especially in Madison Heights,” he said.

Hunt said it would have a “whole myriad of exceptions,” which include, among others, church bells, construction during certain hours and sirens.

Implementing the ordinance would allow the sheriff to buy a decibel reader and have it tested within 60 days of use. Parts of the developing ordinance language would place a sound level on motor vehicles, which Hunt said should address concerns in Old Town, and violations would classify as misdemeanors with a $100 fine.

Leon Parrish, the supervisor who represents the Old Town area, said Aug. 19 that a new ordinance was “a long time coming.” He said he residents have called and sought a tougher ordinance.

But other supervisors raised caution in the wording, especially regarding locations.

Supervisor Ray Vandall said he thought that noise ordinances should include only areas where people live close together. In agricultural areas, he stated it might “open a can of worms.”

Hunt initially told supervisors it could apply to all residential areas and not be limited only to residential zoned areas — he later told supervisors he would further review that language.

Supervisors also told Hunt that he should further develop fines for repeated violations, so that the $100 fine does not go ignored.

The ordinance would enable firms to appeal to the sheriff for permits related to business, Hunt said. It would also give leeway for public dances, though an advance warning would have to be made regarding “excessive” noise.

Several Old Town Madison Heights residents pleaded to supervisors in July for tighter noise restrictions, citing people who stay out late and cause disturbances with cars. They also appealed for a curfew ordinance for that area, though Hunt reported Aug. 19 to the supervisors that he was looking into it and was to meet with residents this week at Madison Heights Baptist Church to get more feedback.

After receiving a first reading next month, supervisors would then be required by county code to advertise and hold a public hearing, which should occur in October.

In other business:

–– The supervisors voted to hire two sheriff’s deputies to work only traffic assignments, which Ayers said would give deputies a greater presence county’s highways. Ayers also informed supervisors his office is working with other agencies in the Lynchburg area to develop a computer network that shares record management systems, which could give officers in Central Virginia greater access to information. “Hopefully, by the first of the year, it will be up and running,” Ayers said.

–– The supervisors voted to authorize the issuance of $3 million in general obligation school financing bonds to fund various capital improvements to the county’s school system.

–– After a public hearing, the supervisors voted to grant Sweet Briar College a special exception in the Agricultural Residential (A-1) district. The exception allows the college to build dormitories consisting of 96 units.