At a glance
The City of Asheville Noise Ordinance Revision Project Team invites everyone to attend a Residents Noise Ordinance Forum May 16 at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St. There will be two sessions — one at 8:30 a.m. and another at 5:30 p.m. Spanish language translation and child care for ages 5 and up will be available.
In March, the City of Asheville launched an extensive community engagement process as a listening tool toward revision of the municipal ordinance governing noise in the City limits (Chapter 10 – Article IV).
Led by the Development Services Department, a listening and learning process has been happening through multiple methods. We’d like to provide residents with an update and let everyone know about an upcoming Noise Ordinance Forum.
Community engagement so far
The City launched a survey on Open City Hall Asheville, asking people tell us how noise is affecting their lives. This online survey will remain up through May. Paper copies are being distributed at neighborhood community centers and libraries.
The City has also partnered with Boston University’s Community Noise Lab and noise researcher Dr. Erica Walker to deploy her NoiseScore app as a way for Asheville residents to document noise in their community and immediate surroundings. The NoiseScore app creates a “heat map” showing where noise is prevalent in a community.
Meanwhile, Development Services staff scheduled more than a dozen meetings with local neighborhoods, business and industrial groups to discuss noise in our community. (Find the schedule at this link.)
“We’ve talked to neighborhood and business association groups from around the city and have already received more than 800 individual survey responses,” said Development Services Director Ben Woody. “Asheville residents have a lot to say about noise and we’re aiming to hear from a wide range of perspectives.”
Noise Ordinance Forum
City staff are eager to share what we’ve learned so far. Everyone is invited to attend a Residents Noise Ordinance Forum May 16 at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St. There will be two sessions — one at 8:30 a.m. and another at 5:30 p.m.
The project team working on the Noise Ordinance revisions will share point-in-time data from the survey and NoiseScore app, and provide an opportunity for attendees to participate and share additional feedback. Spanish language translation and child care for ages 5 and up will be available.
Your input will inform proposed Noise Ordinance revisions, by helping City staff learn how noise is affecting our community. From that input, staff can hone in on the key noise concerns the community experiences.
The City realizes that excessive noise is a hazard to public health, welfare, and safety. Staff support the core value that the community has a right to an environment free from excessive noise that may degrade their quality of life or diminish property values. The noise ordinance revision aims to balance the needs of residents with those of local businesses and recognizes that all parties are essential to a thriving local economy.
Once all the input is collected and analyzed, a proposed Noise Ordinance will go before City Council for their consideration later this year.
Find out more and keep up with this project as it progresses at this link. For more information, contact Development Services Director Ben Woody at 828-259-5679 or BWoody@Ashevillenc.gov.