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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />PUBLIC HEARING ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: November 22, 2004 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 0 , g <br />SUBJECT• Proposed revisions to the County Noise Control Ordinance <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) Yes <br />ATTACHMENT (S): <br />Comparison of Community Noise <br />Ordinances in North Carolina (pp 3 - 10) <br />Existing Orange County Noise Ordinance <br />Comparison Chart (pp 11 -15) <br />Article entitled "Sound Advise" (pp 16 - 32) <br />The existing noise control ordinance (pp <br />33 - 37) <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Lindy Pendergrass, Sheriff, ext 2900 <br />Craig N, Benedict, Director, ext 2592 <br />Glenn Bowles, Planner II, ext 2577 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough <br />Chapel Hill <br />Durham <br />Mebane <br />732-8181 <br />968-4501 <br />688-7331 <br />336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To hear citizen comments and Administration recommendations concerning the <br />possible noise control ordinance amendments. <br />BACKGROUND: In recent years a number of citizen complaints regarding noise have been <br />received by the Sheriffs Office and the Planning Department. The present ordinance, which <br />the Sheriffs Office enforces, does not adequately address some situations, such as noise <br />generated from recreational motorized vehicles (i.e., ATVs, motor bikes, go-carts, model boats <br />and planes) and the like, which have generated citizen complaints. The situation is not a point <br />of regulation, but rather a community problem - a nuisance for which a "reasonable neighbor" <br />approach is suggested. <br />Discussion regarding the noise control ordinance should address amendments which: <br />1. Provide simplification to the definitions section, <br />2. Provide more detailed noise standards, <br />3. Clarify how noise measurements are to be taken, <br />4, Add additional activities to the list of exempt activities, <br />5. Add a list of nuisance noises to the ordinance, and <br />6. Prescribe higher penalties, <br />The Planning Board briefly discussed this noise ordinance and citizen complaints at its October <br />6 meeting as a point of information to garner perspective on the issue but not as a regulatory <br />item since it is within the purview of the Sheriff and BOCG. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial impact at this time with human resources being used from <br />existing department staffs. <br />