Noise Ordinance Revisions Happening Now The City of Asheville hosted the second annual Neighborhood Issue Forum on Saturday, August 3, 2019 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at A-B Tech Community College’s Conference Center. The forum provided an opportunity for residents to discuss and find possible solutions to noise. Notes from the event are available here. Asheville residents can provide input about their experience with excessive noise using NoiseScore, a free smartphone and tablet app for Androids and iPhones developed by Boston University’s Community Noise Lab and Software & Application Innovation Lab (SAIL). Download this free app here to measure and map noise in your environment (available for iPhone and Android). Results will appear in real time on the live NoiseScore map and be analyzed as part of Noise Ordinance development. To see results on the live NoiseScore map, set the date range between 3/25/19 to today’s date. The NoiseScore app should not be used to file a noise complaint with the City of Asheville. Click here for more information about filing a noise complaint. Background As Asheville continues to develop and grow, the City of Asheville recognizes the need to revisit and update the current municipal ordinance governing excessive noise in the City limits (Chapter 10 – Article IV). In 2019, City staff will engage residents, business owners, industrial, and institutional operators in a public process to identify and prioritize noise concerns and develop clear and enforceable thresholds for noise generation. The City of Asheville recognizes the following foundation for noise ordinance development: Excessive noise is a hazard to the public health, welfare, and safety. The community has a right to an environment free from excessive noise that may degrade their quality of life or diminish property values. Noise Ordinance development must prioritize equity as a lens through which to evaluate policy criteria and enforcement action. Noise Ordinance development must balance the reasonable needs of residents and visitors with those of facilities and operations, and recognize that all parties are essential to a thriving local economy. Excessive noise generation can be reasonably addressed through the adoption of a Noise Ordinance that contains clear, enforceable, and effective measures to control noise. Timeline The following timeline is subject to change according to progress of the public engagement process. Changes and updates will be reflected on this project page. Click here for additional timeline details. February 2019 — City staff began collecting and analyzing available noise data and benchmarking examples of noise ordinances from other municipalities. March 2019 — The City launched a city-wide survey through Open City Hall in English and Spanish that gathers input from residents to better understand current noise sources and perceptions toward noise in the city. The survey remained open for resident input until June 16, 2019. Paper surveys were made available at the front counters of the following locations: The Linwood Crump Shiloh Center, 121 Shiloh Rd. South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Rd. Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave. Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St. Burton Street Center, 134 Burton St. East Asheville Branch Library, 906 Tunnel Rd. Asheville Housing Authority, 165 S French Broad Ave. April – May 2019 — The City held a series of separate meetings with residents, businesses and institutional/industrial groups to hear concerns and ordinance recommendations, and review preliminary survey results. Residential Outreach Date/Time Location Residential small group meeting March 3, 4 p.m. Public Works Building, Room A-109 Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods small group meeting March 26, 9 a.m. Public Works Building, Room A-109 Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods monthly meeting April 8, 4 p.m. First Baptist Church, 5 Oak Street Downtown Asheville Residents monthly meeting April 18, 2 p.m. City Bakery, 60 Biltmore Avenue Neighborhood Advisory Committee monthly meeting April 22, 6:30 p.m. City Hall, First Floor Conference Room Neighborhood Association small group facilitated content meeting May 6, 4 p.m. Public Works Building, Room A-109 Residents Noise Ordinance Forum May 16, 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center Neighborhood Issues Forum August 3, 10:00 am Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center Business Outreach Date/Time Location Asheville Independent Restaurants monthly meeting April 3, 9 a.m. 27 College Place Asheville Downtown Association monthly meeting April 10, 12 p.m. The Grove Arcade Conference Room Charlotte Street Business Association monthly meeting April 23, 8 am. Taco Temple, 132 Charlotte Street Eagle/Market Street Business Association monthly meeting April 24, 2 p.m. The Block Off Biltmore, 39 S. Market Street West Asheville Business Association monthly meeting April 25, 8:30 a.m. Isis Music Hall, 743 Haywood Road River Arts District Business Association April 30, 4 p.m. FLS Energy, 130 Roberts Street Asheville Independent Restaurants membership meeting April 9, 9 a.m. 27 College Place Buskers group meeting May 14, 8:30 a.m. Public Works, Room A109 Business Noise Ordinance Forum May 15, 8:30 a.m. Chamber of Commerce, 2nd Floor Conference Room Asheville Music Professionals (AMP) June 13, 10:00 a.m. Public Works, Development Services Conference Rm Industrial/Construction Outreach Date/Time Location Industrial/Construction Noise Ordinance Forum May 14, 8 a.m. Public Works, Room A109 Mission Hospital Noise Ordinance meeting July 19, 11 a.m. Public Works 2nd Floor Conference Room Additional Meeting Date/Time Location Downtown Commission monthly meeting May 10, 8:30 a.m. City Hall, First Floor Conference Room Public Safety Committee monthly meeting May 23, 11:00 a.m. City Hall, First Floor Conference Room June – July 2019 — City staff will organize public engagement results and compiled final results from the Open City Hall survey (closed June 16, 2019) and paper surveys. August 2019 — City staff will release a summary of public engagement and collect sound measurement data. September 2019 — City staff will begin drafting noise ordinance recommendations and meet with City boards and Commissions. City staff will hold a joint meeting with all groups to review findings, progress, and outstanding concerns (meeting time not yet scheduled). October 2019 – City staff will present draft noise ordinance to City Council for public hearing. Supporting Documents City of Asheville Noise Ordinance Appeals Board web page City of Asheville Noise Complaint Heat Map Municipal Noise Ordinance Case Examples Article – ¿Cómo afecta el ruido su calidad de vida? Closed on 06/16/19: Noise Ordinance Survey (versión en Español aquí) Noise Score – A mobile app for community noise issues: Use this free app to measure and map noise in your environment and view results in real time! The Noise Score app should not be used to file a noise complaint with the City of Asheville. Noise Ordinance Update Meeting Presentations and Notes Notes from the Neighborhood Issues Forum on 08/03/19 Presentation – Noise Ordinance Update to the Public Safety Committee June 2019 Notes from the Residents Noise Forums on 5/16/2019 Notes from the Business Noise Forum on 5/15/2019 Notes from the Institutional/Industrial Noise Forum on 5/14/2019 Presentation – Noise Ordinance Update April 2019 Contact Information Ben Woody, AICP Director, Development Services Department 828-259-5679