PENDLETON — Loud noise will soon be outlawed in the town of Pendleton after city officials approved a new noise ordinance on first reading tonight.
And the town council members agreed on first reading of an ordinance to annex 38.6 acres adjoining The Villages at Town Creek for a future skilled-care center and assisted-living homes. The project still must go through another reading and planning commission hearings.
The noise ordinance was drafted to meet Anderson County requirements so the sheriff’s office could enforce it, said Mayor Carol Burdette.
She said complaints of youths playing their car stereo systems too high or loud motorcycles caused the request for the ordinance. It requires a second reading to become law.
Violation of the ordinance will be a misdemeanor, and violators can receive a fine of up to $500.
For drivers, noise that exceeds the manufacturers’ original equipment could constitute a violation, and drivers with loud boom boxes or similar equipment could be in violation of the ordinance if the sound is “plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet.”
Loudspeakers played in a “sound-sensitive area” between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and dogs that bark for more than 10 minutes, also in a sound-sensitive area, are possible violations. However, if the dog is barking at a possible trespasser, then the rule doesn’t apply, according to the ordinance.
The ordinance sets decibel limits that can be measured by sheriff’s deputies, Burdette said.
Continuous sounds louder than 90 decibels from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and louder than 65 decibels from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. in residential areas are banned under the ordinance.
Developers of the skilled-care facility are seeking a certificate of need from the state for up to 215 beds, although the first phase would be 60 to 80 beds, depending on demand, said Chuck Peterson, a spokesman for Apex Homes, the developer.
The company is waiting for flood plain and wetlands reviews before it can decide on how to use its 38.6 acres, he said. The goal is to build the center and assisted-living single-family and duplex homes at the same time, with completion in 2011, he said.
He said that of the 38.6 acres, about 20 acres are buildable.
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Comments » 11
gofasturnleft writes:
Crank up AC/DC Pendleton.
Jinx writes:
Why make laws if they are not enforced?
Werewolf writes:
Hahahaha. "Boom boxes". Old people are funny.
Niblits writes:
I agree Jinx.
Incidentally state vehicular noise laws are rarely enforced either.
Code of Laws of S.C.: Title 56. MOTOR VEHICLES "... motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke and no person shall use a muffler cutout, bypass or similar device..."
Charles_Philip_Arthur_George writes:
AND YOU KIDS GET OFF OF MY LAWN!!!!
...kids today with their boom boxes and skateboards and funny hair. In my day we....
yankeefann writes:
When was the last time you saw the Sheriff's office up there on a regular basis. Great thinking Carol B. and council. Noise ordinance? What's next citizens arrest? Even Iva has a police department.
localgrl writes:
That's right yankeefann...thanks to Mayor Burdette we don't HAVE a police dept in Pendleton anymore. We have a CONTRACT w/the Anderson Sheriffs Office and now the officers who patrol our neighborhoods have no familiarity w/Pendleton at all. They don't know us as citizens either. It's just another example of how far removed Mayor Burdette has become from the community that she still wants to govern. She's been out of touch for a long time but now she's suddenly everywhere trying to remind everyone of her past accomplishments. Amazing. We haven't seen this much of her in years! I wish she'd let the office go and allow someone with fewer outside agendas and interests to really represent the interests of Pendleton.
mmurphy2440#265819 writes:
LOL! That's funny! Anyone wanna buy my boombox? Can't use it anymore! Several great tapes to go along with it....(sarcasm)
Spiffy1967 writes:
You've got a point, yankeefann. During a period this past summer when a house on my street had cars coming and going, staying for a short time, strangers (what's THIS?? Maybe, possibly, drug activity??) we saw the Sheriff's patrol cars on a daily basis. Then, the "activity" went somewhere else, and now, no more patrols.
When I made a few calls to the Anderson County people about another matter, one involving a Town of Pendleton ordinance, I was told that the County could not, by law, enforce ANY local ordinances, at least, not without an official request from the appropriate Town official.
So how often do you think we'll see enforcement of a noise ordinance? We call -- whom? when loud noise interrupts sleep at 3AM? The Sheriff's deputies are concerned with "criminal intent" kinds of conduct.
Carol and the Council know darn well that their ordinance will not have enforcement available. Hundreds of Pendleton's people tried to talk her out of eliminating the police department, in a meeting I hope we'll all remember on election day, next Tuesday, November 10.
Werewolf writes:
What's a tape?
localgrl writes:
Spiffy , I hope that the voters will remember this too on November 10th. Ms. Burdette has had 12 years to complete her agenda. We need new blood, open ears and availability in the Mayors office now.
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