Board recommends amending noise rules to exempt public, semi‑public and special uses

The Planning and Development Board on Aug. 24 voted to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners adopt an amendment to the county's noise regulations to exempt public, semi‑public and designated special uses from the current 70 dBA property-line standard.

Adam Engel, Growth Management director, told the board the change was prompted by a request from a historic church that plans to replace a mechanical bell with an electronic bell and was concerned the electronic device could exceed the present 70 dBA sound-level limit at the property line. Engel said the proposed ordinance would continue to permit regulation of hours and, where appropriate, set separate decibel standards for particular uses or special events.

"The intent is...to use [electronic bells] for Christmas songs, for the timing of time as the bell currently rings," Engel said, adding that staff had also considered emergency‑use exemptions already in the code. Engel said the amendment would also remove an outdated "public lands institutional" term from the code and clarify that site plans, PUDs and other development-application reviews remain subject to current processes.

Board members asked whether venues that rent for late‑night events (and have produced complaints) would be exempt; staff said special events would still be regulated and that the exemption would not broadly shield venues from event-based noise conditions. The board also asked about enforcement; staff said the sheriff's office handles enforcement and typically uses both decibel meters and complaint-driven responses.

After asking for public comment and hearing none, the board made and seconded a motion to recommend the proposed amendment to the Board of County Commissioners. The board recorded the motion carried on roll call (three votes in favor, one opposed). Staff will forward the recommended ordinance to the commission for consideration.