Hearings Thursday for new Little Compton noise, entertainment laws

Posted 1/5/16

LITTLE COMPTON — The public and interested parties — such as representatives from Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard, The Stone House, and Simmons Café and Market — will get a chance at public hearings this week to sound off about two proposed new …

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Hearings Thursday for new Little Compton noise, entertainment laws

Posted

LITTLE COMPTON — The public and interested parties — such as representatives from Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard, The Stone House, and Simmons Café and Market — will get a chance at public hearings this week to sound off about two proposed new town ordinances the Town Council is considering.

One measure would regulate noise such as outdoor music and concerts, bands at weddings, crop cannons, and landscaping machines.

The other would require an entertainment license for indoor and outdoor events at venues around town.

Among the requirements of the proposed entertainment ordinance is a prohibition of drones — "Flying powered vehicles overhead for the purpose of recording or promoting entertainment events is prohibited."

The hearings will be conducted by the Town Council in Town Hall on Thursday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m. The two ordinances are posted on the town website: www.little-compton.com.

The upcoming hearing culminates an effort by the Town Council over recent months to gather opinions and to draft rules that could address citizen complaints about outdoor concerts at Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyards over last summer, occasional music from weddings, and other noise in town that has evoked recent complaints such as crop cannons and landscaping machinery.

The complaints of vineyard neighbors have generated crowds in town hall when both the council and the Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust (LCACT) met.

Vineyard complaints have pointed to large crowds, traffic, bright lights at night, noise, the frequency of the events, alcohol, the busing-in of spectators, the construction of a sound stage, amplification of the music, and trash.

Such has been the outcry that annual licenses for establishments that have provided entertainment in the past were renewed for just four months, pending the adoption of the new ordinances dealing with noise and entertainment.

A call for written comments from the public, about what the two ordinances should contain, generated 19 letters and about 140 pages.

"We received responses from neighbors, licensees, citizens in general, boards and commissions, and the town councilors," Council President Robert Mushen said.

There are seven licensees with an interest in entertainment licenses: Carolynn's Sakonnet Vineyard, The Barn Restaurant, Crowther's Restaurant, Little Compton Community Center, Sakonnet Point Club, Simmons Cafe and Marketplace, and Young Family Farm.

All had been given, and agreed to, just four-month (not one year, as is customary) license renewals at the end of November, pending the outcome of the ordinance-adoption process.

"By the end of March," said Town Council President Robert Mushen last Thursday, "we hope to accomplish renewals of those who've been given four month licenses."

Noise ordinance

The noise ordinance proposal begins with a statement of policy that aims to balance competing interests].

The generators of noise "should be allowed to continue at reasonable levels with moderate regulation," it says, and citizens in town have "the right to an environment reasonably free from noise."

It is the "declared policy of this Town to promote an environment free from excessive noise, otherwise properly called noise pollution, which unnecessarily jeopardizes the health and welfare and degrades the quality of the lives of the residents of this community, without unduly prohibiting, limiting or otherwise regulating the function of certain noise-producing equipment which is not amenable to such controls and yet is essential to the quality of life in the community."

Loudness is prohibited which disturbs "the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants" or is at any time at a "louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing for persons who are at the site."

It's a violation indoors between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. if the noise can be heard 50 feet from the structure, proposes the ordinance.

It's a violation outdoors if the noise can be heard between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. at the boundary line of the property.

At all hours in a residential zone, it's a violation if the sound is audible to in any neighborhood by a "person of average sensibilities in their normal living area," says the ordinance.

In any event, it is proposed that the noise cannot exceed 65 decibels between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., and 55 decibels between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Mufflers would be required on noise-creating blowers or power fans or any internal combustion engine "the operation of which causes noise."

Entertainment ordinance

The entertainment ordinance "is brand new" said Mr. Mushen. "We're not modifying existing law because it hasn't existed before."

The outline of the ordinance announces how the ordinance will work, Mr. Mushen said.

It's obtained from the Town Clerk, he said, if it's other than annual. A definition section addresses requirements for indoor and outdoor entertainment.

"It's a considered process," for obtaining an entertainment license, Mr. Mushen said, "not a simple renewal process."

Mr. Mushen noted that a provision of the proposal says that the town council may "at its discretion waive any requirement of the ordinance" following notice and a hearing.

If property is proposed to be used that involves a conservation easement, written affirmation from those responsible for the enforcement of the terms of the easement must be obtained stating that the activity is consistent with the terms of the conservation easement.

Outdoor entertainment is permitted only between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and amplification must cease at 8 p.m.

Other requirements are specified for off-street parking, traffic, security, toilet facilities, insurance, lighting, and sponsor-paid detail staff.

Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard, Little Compton entertainment ordinance, Little Compton noise ordinance, Little Compton Town Council

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