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As part of a light agenda on July 11, Locust City Council set a public hearing to gather feedback on proposed revisions and additions to the town’s noise ordinance.
The proposed changes are in response to a petition presented to the council in March by residents in and adjoining Locust Town Center regarding noise generated from special events and by downtown restaurants.
“We’ve been doing our homework since then,” explained City Manager Cesar Correa, who noted that in addition to having Locust Police Department measure decibel levels, he had examined noise ordinances from towns with mixed-use areas similar to Locust Town Center.
“Locust PD has checked noise levels, and the decibel levels were within the limits of what is allowed under our current ordinance,” he said.
While the current ordinance sets specific decibel levels, a number of sections call for subjective judgment by town enforcement personnel. The proposed ordinance revisions would remove “subjective language that is difficult to define.”
Correa also noted that a common practice among towns with mixed-use districts is the establishment of noise ordinances specific to that district. As such, the proposal would add a section specifically titled “Noise Control in Locust Town Center.”
“We want citizens to understand that their concerns are heard,” he said.
Council members voted 5-0 (Mayor Steve Huber and Councilman Roger Hypes were absent) to set a public hearing for the Aug. 8 meeting.
In other business, the council:
• Voted 5-0 to award a contract to Centralina Council of Governments to update the city’s land use plan.
• Voted 5-0 to change Harrison Street to one-way traffic between Ray Kennedy Drive and Kerri Dawn Lane, and to add an all-way stop at the intersection of Ray Kennedy Drive and Market Street.
• Considered preliminary cost estimates and site plan for a connecting road from the city’s post office to Market Street.
• Received a report from Councilman Barry Sims on revisions to the site plan for the Locust Senior Center.
• Scheduled a public hearing for Aug. 8 to consider a site plan change for conditional rezoning to build a retaining wall along Professional Park Drive.
The council will hold its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at Locust City Hall.

Toby Thorpe is a freelance writer for The Stanly News & Press.