Town board approves noise ordinance
The Town Board adopted a noise ordinance expected to provide police with the tools to address complaints.
WOODSTOCK, N.Y. » The Town Board has adopted a noise ordinance that is expected to provide police with the tools to address complaints.
The regulations were approved during a meeting Tuesday by a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Jay Wenk opposed.
In a telephone interview, Supervisor Bill McKenna said the regulations should help resolve issues that have arisen from house parties that have grown in number due to an increase in online property rentals.
“Occasionally, we get a complaint about one of the bars, that they’re a little loud, and this will give the police the tool to go out and get them to tone it down,” he said.
“The bigger issues are the party-house, shortterm rentals,” McKenna said. “People coming up, playing music.”
During public hearings, there were several complaints from residents about houses in the hamlet being used for musical jam sessions into the early morning hours.
“We weren’t getting a tremendous amount of calls about young people playing music,” McKenna said. “We still aren’t.”
Prohibited under the law are:
• Any unnecessary noise from any source between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• Noise from a dog or other pet animal that is continuous and exceeds 15 minutes. The same limit applies to alarm systems for buildings and vehicles.
• Excessive or unreasonable level of noise from any live music, sound reproduction system, radio, tape players, televisions, or device that reproduces or amplifies sound.
• Excavation, demolition, alternation or repair of any building between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. The same limits apply to the use of power equipment, but with the time extended to 8 a.m. on weekends.
• Operating an automobile or motorcycle in a manner to cause excessive squealing or other excessive noise of the tires.
“The bigger issues are the party house, short-term rentals. People coming up, playing music.”
— Supervisor Bill McKenna