Hillsborough officials are looking to make a change to the town’s noise ordinance before a full-scale reopening from the coronavirus pandemic, as commissioners discussed potential details on Monday night.
The Hillsborough Board of Commissioners heard clarifications and shared thoughts on changes it is considering during its virtual meeting, continuing a discussion from October about how to stop amplified sound from potentially disrupting downtown residences.
Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck about the feedback.
“After last night’s conversation, we are nearing a conclusion of this discussion and coming to actually making some decisions. Police Chief [Duane] Hampton made it clear the existing ordinance isn’t working for any of the parties, including the police department.”
The police chief’s comments stressed the need for an update to be made for the four-year-old ordinance to better address the town’s growing night life. Initial complaints from residences about amplified music coming from the Hot Tin Roof bar on West Margaret Lane began the conversation about a change in January. Town officials have since expressed hopes to create a noise ordinance beneficial to both fitting residents’ needs while also accounting for the town’s continual growth and development of local businesses.
Hampton said Monday changing the ordinance to be clearer for late night hours is a priority for community members who have complained. His suggestion is to now have a set time indoor music and sound cannot be amplified, compared to a decibel-based reading system established four years ago. Based on how easily the sound can be heard from other properties between 12 a.m. and 7 a.m., the police chief said officers would then enforce the noise ordinance and approach the property in violation.
“If we can hear it and someone says it bothers them, that is in violation,” explained Hampton. “It’s very clear, it’s very easy: we either hear sound or we don’t, we have somebody saying they have a problem or they don’t. It’s simply trying to balance the interest of protecting the residents who may live near these places after whatever the cutoff time is.”
Additional changes Hampton discussed with the town commissioners included changing the ordinance to being enforced as a civil penalty instead of a criminal one. Commissioners debated the use of a tiered fine system, which punishes violators of the ordinance in an increasing manner after receiving a warning. The penalty would be brought against the business or the person in control of the violating property, with appeals being made directly to the Hillsborough Chief of Police.
Other elements commissioners reviewed were whether to create a special events exception to the ordinance and whether to include outdoor amplified sound, which is not addressed in the current noise ordinance.
Weaver told 97.9 The Hill the plan following the meeting is for Hampton to craft wording for a noise ordinance based on this feedback that the town board will later consider approving.
“It will likely be a little bit further down the road,” said the mayor of when the matter will come to a vote. “December would be my guess.”
Photo via Visit Hillsborough NC.
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