Hatteras speakers are loud and clear on noise rule

Rob Morris | August 21, 2012

Real Watersports co-founder Matt Nuzzo at the hearing.

After getting an earful from about 20 concerned Hatteras business owners and residents Monday night, the Dare County Board of Commissioner put off action on a revised noise ordinance until later in the year.

Speakers, ranging from wedding planners to DJs to restaurant owners, argued in a public hearing that a draft ordinance could harm businesses or even shut them down.

Several businesses submitted an alternative plan that would set “quiet hours” late in the evening until early morning rather than basing enforcement on decibel levels all day long.

Most agreed, however, that a clearer ordinance is needed because the current one outlaws disturbing noises but gives deputies responding to complaints no objective guidelines to determine if a violation has occurred.

The current ordinance has been in place since the early 1970s.

Several speakers said weddings have become big business and a strict noise ordinance could discourage brides from planning their events on Hatteras Island.

“I’m here tonight because the sound ordinance that is currently up for vote is a direct threat to our industry, our incomes our livelihoods, our families and our future,” said Kate Pullen, president of the non-profit Outer Banks Wedding Association.

Like others, Pullen said that the association agrees on the need for an “attainable, measurable and reasonable sound ordinance.”

A proposal circulated by business owners on Hatteras Island suggests setting “quiet hours” in residential areas after 11 p.m. when decibel levels would be enforced. In commercial areas, the time would start “as late as midnight.”

Maximum decibels levels would be 65 in residential areas and 75 in commercial areas, the proposal says. A level of 60, which is commonly used in local ordinances, is about the same as the level of a conversation. The level would be measured not at the source but on the adjoining public street right-of-way.

It suggested that a separate set of rules be established for industrial areas.

The county’s draft ordinance specified varying decibel levels throughout the day and night with some exceptions.

Discussions about changing the current ordinance were prompted by complaints about outdoor music.

Commissioners agreed to direct county staffers to keep working on the ordinance. County Manager Bobby Outten said he would work with business owners and residents to try to come up with an agreeable alternative.

Commissioner Allen Burrus, who represents Hatteras Island, said the current ordinance is not good for businesses because “it’s subjective to the person that’s hearing it.”

“So you need a better ordinance,” he said. “We need a better ordinance. We know that.”

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See what people are saying:

Alexy says:

If the complaint is outdoor music then the law should be drafted to allow for a buisness district to have exemptions until certian hours.
As far as residental noise issues I have no problem with a noise ordinace that starts at the property line and a system where the person who owns the home or is renting/in charge of the home is warned and told about the noise ordinance the first time a call is recived then if the deputies return they are issued a summons for the violation. That is fair and it makes sure the people knew they were violating the rules when they had to come back a 2nd time.

on August 23, 2012 @ 10:51 am

RL says:

Zoning should require businesses with “noise” to set up shop in an area that doesn’t affect residential areas. They wouldn’t have problems then.

on August 23, 2012 @ 4:24 pm

Dick Barber says:

Having been subjected to the noise levels of wedding receptions next to my house, I think that Ms Pullen is of the same mind as many other business owners or promoters. Let’s worry about my business and the Hell with the lives of residents and vacationers who may want a little peace and quiet. For years the Outer Banks has been a great place to come and kick back. Now with the weddind industry in prominence every place becomes a venue for noise, Hell-raising and all other forms of obnoxious commotion. God bless the new draft proposal and its passage. And may the county see fit tp pass it AND enforce it.

on August 24, 2012 @ 11:57 am

Zappy says:

How about a community working together to identify and solve the issues?

Here’s the hurdles:
-vacationers that are on vacation, and are of a mindset whereby “i’m hear to party till whenever”
-weddings that can happen any time or place and in any size
-bars and restaurants located in residential areas (some that have outdoor venues like Drunken Cornhole until 2am)
-contractors that can roll up at 6am on Sunday morning and start hammering away

I think Spock would say: “It is illogical to have a noise ordinance of any kind in a resort area, Captain – please beam us up, this place is no fun anymore…”

When I moved here, as a resident, my main goal was to find a decent place away from the beach cuz I knew I’d get little-or-no sleep 4 months out of the year. If you like living near or on the beach (i.e. anywhere but West Side) ya gotta get a clue. If you were “here first” when things were nice and small (the Good Ol Days?) those are long gone, so time for a new strategy.

on August 25, 2012 @ 10:14 am

Mark Williamson says:

We live in towns, PEOPLE, not resorts. Dare County is not an all inclusive resort like someplace on the north coast of Jamaica. We live here, 365 days a year. Tourism is the county’s lifeblood, but being a tourist does not give you the right to be extremely loud at 2am. Walking down the street should be done in the same manner as any small town, not 5 abreast because the are 50 yards from the ocean. And anyone crossing the bypass on foot, in the dark, or at high noon, is taking a BIG risk. More tourists are staying westside and trying to walk to the beach, and this is crazy. More rentals have now infiltrated areas once solely residential, and yes, the expectation of lower noise levels is normal. A tourist needs to have limits just like locals.

on August 27, 2012 @ 12:48 pm

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