Friends of Shakori Hills Music Festival and Friday Night Music Series seek help

[Gene Galin]

From: Molly Matlock [mailto:mollymp_at_earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 5:09 PM
Subject: Please show your support for Shakori Hills this Monday, August 21st at the Chatham Commissioners Meeting

The people of Chatham and surrounding counties have enjoyed years of entertainment, fellowship and cultural enrichment because of the dedicated folks of the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Music Festival.
 
Unfortunately, a few of the neighbors in the surrounding area are voicing a loud and persistent protest to our County Commissioners against the music series and Festival. The main problem, the level of sound, is being addressed by Shakori staff and volunteers. In the future we will not have the all night Zydeco performances, and we will lower the volume of music after midnight. This is eight nights a year, but a few neighbors are demanding an end to the music. We want to work with them and to respect their needs, but we don’t want to lose all the music.
 
The Friday night music series should not change at all- as you know the music is at a very reasonable level. However, some opponents to Shakori are demanding that all the music be put to an end. We need to respond.
 
The commissioners are hearing from the discontented and NOT from those of us who truly love and appreciate this opportunity to enjoy nature, community, and great music. Please do not think that ‘someone else’ will make sure that Shakori stays a vital part of our community. We need you need to make the call.
 
There will be a hearing before the County Commissioners on August 21st- PLEASE call or email to let them know that there IS support for the festival and Friday night music. They have not heard from those of us who support and appreciate Shakori Hills. Let the commissioners know that we support working in collaboration with the community to resolve the noise level and we continue to reach out to our neighbors to create a great resource for all of Chatham County.
 
Let the commissioners know that the events at Shakori are safe, wonderful, family friendly and a benefit to our community- both financially and culturally!

Call or email your commissioners ASAP at
Patrick Barnes, Commissioner (District 1) Business: (919) 362-7270 patrickbarnes@bellsouth.net
Carl H. Outz, (District 3) 919 542-2685, CarlHOUtz@aol.com
Allen Michael "Mike" Cross (District 2), duckdogcross@aol.com
Tommy Emerson, Vice Chair (District 5), annatomemerson@earthlink.net, 742-3401
Bunkey Morgan, Chair (District 4) 541 1191 Bunkey@BunkeyMorgan.com
 
THANK YOU! Contact Andy for more information 919-542-7593.

[integrityticket]

Sounds like a classic battle between good and evil.

[Wahoo]

If you are annoying your neighbors then they have a right to stand up.  Play your music at a level where it can be herd only on your own property.  Loud music effects people different. Those bass tones will drive a human crazy.  It can also harm property values.  Just ask the folks who live next to the Sportsman Arena in Goldston.

[bloody_peasant]

If you are annoying your neighbors then they have a right to stand up.  Play your music at a level where it can be herd only on your own property.  Loud music effects people different. Those bass tones will drive a human crazy.  It can also harm property values.  Just ask the folks who live next to the Sportsman Arena in Goldston.

Does this mean I have a rigth to put down my neighbors chickens or dogs?  Or maybe their teenagers? 
Or how about those firing off fireworks?  Hmm, both loud and bassy.

I'm all for having reasonable noise ordinances, but saying all noises must be restricted to one's property borders is an unreasonable policy that would put an end to most small chicken owners in the country and most dog owners as well not to mention put a damper on the 4th of July celebrations.

[Wahoo]

What we need is for a MUSIC only ordnance,is that what you are saying. 

[bloody_peasant]

What we need is for a MUSIC only ordnance,is that what you are saying. 

Nope, definitely not, there is no reason to single out music over other types of noise.  The ordinance should cover all noises, specify a decible level and time of day.  If you are making noise louder that reaches someone's house with a decible level higher than the limit after a certain time at night then you are in violation.

Sorry, I know there are night shift workers out there, but there has to be a time when loud construction work can be done, etc.

[Wahoo]

I totally disagree ,the noise ordinance should apply to every hour of every day. 24 hours around the clock. Off hour workers are gaining in numbers an should get the same respect that the day workers get. Equal rights for ever one. Music does not have to be loud to enjoy .  Just respect your neighbors!

When Its 95 degrees outside an you have worked all day in the building it is nice to sit on your deck after the sun goes down an enjoy the outdoors without your neighbors radio blasting. NO one wants to have to stay a prisoner of their house because their neighbors music is annoying.  My yard is my place for relaxing not listen to free loud music from the neighbors. All 24 hours of the day.

We need a music only ordinance!

[bloody_peasant]

Off hour workers are gaining in numbers an should get the same respect that the day workers get.

Impossible without outlawing lawn mowers and any daytime construction within their vicinities.  Off hour workers will always be subject to more noise than day workers when they sleep there is no way around it.

My yard is my place for relaxing not listen to free loud music from the neighbors. All 24 hours of the day.

Do you really get loud music 24 hours a day?  I agree my yard is my place for relaxing, I wish I could do it without the sound of loud vehicles, barking dogs, lawn mowers, and all the other forms of noise pollution, but hey that's life.

Singling out one form of noise over all others seems illogical and unreasonable.  If an ordinance applies to music it should just as equally apply to any form of noise.  I wish I could use government to outlaw my pet peeves too, but I understand my tastes are just that, my tastes.  After all I don't want my neighbor to be allowed to crank up his harley at 11:00 PM or to start hammering and sawing at 1:00 AM and there is nothing that law enforcement can do because his noise isn't "music."

Solution is simple, set a daytime and nighttime noise levels.  Daytime levels have to be higher than nighttime to allow for mowing, construction, dump trucks, Harley's, etc.  The levels however apply to all noises no matter what their source.  Any noise that will exceed these thresholds must get approval via a waiver from the county to allow for unusual circumstances (e.g. 4th of July celebrations).  Any other violators get a warning and repeat violators get fined.

[whoopdedo1]

Good points, peasant.  Now all we need is to get Captain Allen and his noise checkers out when the violations occur.  Our word is no good.

[bloody_peasant]

Good points, peasant.  Now all we need is to get Captain Allen and his noise checkers out when the violations occur.  Our word is no good.

Yep laws are useless if there is no enforcment
A simple drive up to the issuer of the complaint with a decible meter is all it needs, combine that with traffic drive by checks as well to get overly loud auto's, etc.

[Wahoo]

Solution is simple, set a daytime and nighttime noise levels.  Daytime levels have to be higher than nighttime to allow for mowing, construction, dump trucks, Harley's, etc.  The levels however apply to all noises no matter what their source.  Any noise that will exceed these thresholds must get approval via a waiver from the county to allow for unusual circumstances (e.g. 4th of July celebrations).  Any other violators get a warning and repeat violators get fined.
[/quote]

What I have read is the new ordinance covers your ever point.But the levels the music is allowed to be played is not acceptable by the folks at Shakori Hills.  I have friends that live 2 miles away an sitting on their deck having a BBQ we could hear the music at their house.  It was annoying. .

Also this is a huge county and covers 700 square miles.  The problems with the noise is not just confined to the Silk Hope or Shakori Hills. Their are so many complaints that you have to have one ordinance to cover the entire county or you will drive the sheriffs crazy.   Just get a police scanner an listen to the calls the sheriffs office gets everyday for loud music.

[bloody_peasant]

What I have read is the new ordinance covers your ever point.But the levels the music is allowed to be played is not acceptable by the folks at Shakori Hills.  I have friends that live 2 miles away an sitting on their deck having a BBQ we could hear the music at their house.  It was annoying. .

I've not seen the new ordinance, is there a place where I can read the new proposed levels?  Does it actually differentiate between music and other kinds of loud noises?

I live off the same road as Shakori Hills less than 2 miles from it.  During their twice a year big thing, I can hear their  music somewhat outside, but nothing inside.  Its volume at my house was considerably less than my neighbors' and their neighbors' lawn mowers.  Although there may be differences in acoustics, sound direction, sound travel, etc. between my house and your friends.

I've never heard their new Friday night thing at my place despite being outside a lot.