Concerned about moving too quickly on a complicated manner, the Independence Township Board of Trustees tabled revisions to their sound ordinance after discussion at their May 4 meeting.
The board is reacting to complaints of noisy dirt bikes and off-road vehicles in the Deer Valley and Cranberry Lake subdivisions.
‘I don’t think it is the level of the noise but rather the location and the hours,? Supervisor Dale Stuart said. ‘If we had something where individuals could use these vehicles from say 2 p.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. with one day being for no use at all I think that would be fair.?
Trustee and Deer Valley resident Larry Rosso disagreed with Stuart.
‘I think this certainly is an issue of noise level. The worst thing about these ATV’s compared to lawnmowers is if you give them a four-hour block, they will take the whole block,? Rosso said. ‘They are becoming more of a common occurrence and it is better to take care of this issue now rather than later.?
While the board put the item on the agenda and welcomed public comments, less than 10 residents spoke at the meeting.
‘This is a very serious issue,? Deer Valley resident Bill Goga told the board. ‘I hope you move forward with the strictest compliance possible.?
Resident Dave Cook said he was at the meeting to speak up for private land owners.
‘I sympathize with these people but where do we stop? I have a bulldozer across the street who works from dawn to dusk. How about chainsaws or lawnmowers? Many people purchase property for personal rights and want the freedom to use the land as so desired.?
The only regulations the current ordinance puts on recreational equipment is, ‘utilization… after sundown and prior to 8 a.m. where the noise emanating from such an activity is clearly audible more than 50 feet from the property line,? is prohibited.
The ordinance was adopted in October 1990.
The ordinance amendment under consideration would make it a civil infraction for persons to operate recreational equipment such as snowmobiles, dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, and the like, within a certain distance of residential uses, churches, hospitals and schools, subject to certain exceptions.
‘A few hours each day seems to be the most enforceable,? Clerk Joan McCrary said.
The board hopes to vote on the issue at the May 18 meeting.