Agenda - 12-07-2009 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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25 Last year I presented to you a request that the lighting standards for athletic fields and other lighted facilities in rural areas be reconsidered. I made this request because the Planning and Zoning Department allowed a church to erect a lighted ball field directly across a dirt road from my house with a Class B Special Use Permit. Therefore, none of the neighbors affected by the ball field had a say in whether the bail field should be built and lighted or how and when the field would be used. We have now lived with the field in its' completed state since May 29, 2009. Its impact on my home and others in our community has been very disturbing. Many games have gone past 11:30 p.m., and one tournament game had the lights on after 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning, with no relief given by the Sheriff's Department after 911 calls. Lights shine into my house. Port-a-potties have been in view from my front porch continuously since that May date. Sometime in late July a PA system was added to the field. One of my neighbors a mile away can hear it. I have endured countless people using my driveway as a turnaround.. Noisy motorcycles rev their engines as they pull out from the dirt road onto the paved road. If this all sounds angry, it is. As a citizen of this country I am entitled to due process of law when the integrity and value of my home and property is being taken from me without an opportunity to be heard. Therefore, I ask that you amend the lighting and noise standards for rural areas. I also present to you a petition I started, but was unable to continue with due to illness in my family. Over 90% of the people I spoke with signed it, requesting that all lighted athletic facilities be required to have a Special Class B permit." Bonnie Hauser was speaking on behalf of Orange County Voice, who was working in cooperation with CHAOS, Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society. She said that they are thrilled to see the County take a proactive stance on lighting ordinances and for keeping the rural community separate from the urban communities. She said that rural Orange County still has pockets of dark sky and they support recommendations to limit lights and noise on athletic fields. She said that they would like a complete ban on lights that go upward. They would also like to add incentives to use IDA approved fixtures. They support the Hurdle Mills group about seeing an ordinance extended to require a public hearing any time outdoor lighting is included in a public venue. She said that light and noise travel farther in rural areas. She said that CHAOS would be happy to help in any way because the members are experts on light issues. Robert Nichols asked if there would be a public hearing if the Board of County Commissioners and Planning Board approve this as recommended and it was answered yes. If this ordinance is passed, the enforcers will be the Planning Department. He said that he is tired of the government telling him how to make every move he makes on his farm. Ben Lloyd said that he supports what Jeffrey Schmidt said and that they should not fix what is not broken. He spoke about the Efland Rodeo and how it goes past 11:00 p.m. Commissioner Jacobs asked Michael Harvey to address the point Ben Lloyd just made about this scheduled event that may fast past i 1:00. Michael Harvey said that the current ordinance states that an outdoor sports field cannot have lighting past 11:00 unless it was to conclude a previously scheduled and commenced event. Mr. Harvey said that the proposed revision says that an outdoor sports field in a rural areas of the County cannot have outdoor sports field lighting on past 11:00 p.m.. Craig Benedict said that for certain outdoor events, it would be a determination by the Planning Department to decide to go past time limits.