Public Voices Support at Noise Ordinance Hearing

About 50 residents from East Marion to Cutchogue to Greenport showed up at a Tuesday meeting to support a — a five-year process for some, a two-year process for others.

Residents who live near a handful of different commercial enterprises, both open and now-closed, on the North Fork recounted how loud noise has affected their quality of life in the vastly serene area. It was a sentiment Supervisor Scott Russell echoed.

"I grew up in a community that didn’t need a noise code," he said. "In those days, we knocked on our neighbor's door and asked not to run the sprinkler so early on Sunday morning ... That town was Southold. It's still wonderful town, but not the same town."

The town board closed the public hearing and is expected to pass the ordinance at its next meeting on June 21.

East Marion residents, who approached the town board over five years ago to try and quell noise at the were satisfied to see a final bill on the near horizon in town hall. Its passage would make Southold Town the last town in Suffolk County to adopt a noise ordinance.

"This ordinance isn't perfect," said Ruth Ann Bramson, who recalled forming the East Marion Community Association in response to the noise at Blue Dolphin. "It doesn't include everything we wish. But we think it's a good start."

Russell pointed out the legislation's imperfections a few times during the hour-long hearing. He ceded that punishments for violating the proposed code could be worked on, and considered looking into frequency levels in the future and the ordinance's application to marine activities. are not covered under the ordinance, but rather Federal Aviation Administration and motor vehicle laws.

"This by no means portends to be the solution to all noise issues," Russell said. "We will tend to this legislation just like anything else we pass."

Even a Southold resident who said he was in the music and promotion industry supported the legislation, though he questioned how accurate the readings would be since no ambient decibel readings have been taken in town.

"It's a shame if businesses aren't responsible to conform to whatever law you do pass," said Tom Hanisch.

Russell said the will have close to a dozen noise meters, with the patrol sergeant carrying one on hand at all times to deal with noise issues. He added that the board is still grappling how to enforce noise complaints: whether to measure noise levels from the edge of the complainant's property line or the edge of the reported source of the noise.

According to the proposed code, dBA (the standard used to measure sound) above 65 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. will be non-compliant, as will dBA above 50 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The levels exclude a list of 15 activities, including agricultural and light residential equipment use, daytime construction, and any non-amplified noise generated as a result of school or sporting activities.