Council to hold hearing on noise ordinance, amendment

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PROSPECT — The Town Council will hold a hearing on a noise ordinance and an amendment to an existing ordinance at its March 5 meeting.

The noise ordinance had been on the books since it was adopted in 1987. Last year, the town found out that the ordinance had never been filed with and approved by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which is the final step to make the noise ordinance enforceable because it relied on scientific measurements like decibel readings.

The ordinance, which is basically the same as the one adopted in 1987, has now been approved as a rough draft by the DEEP. It needs to be approved by the town and sent back to the DEEP for final approval before the town can enforce it.

Under the ordinance, businesses and residences must keep sound at 55 decibels or less, measured at the edge of the property, between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. through 8 p.m. on Sunday. At all other times, the sound must be at 45 decibels or less.

Under the ordinance, the town can fine people $150 for each violation.

The council will also hear from the public about an amendment to the ordinance that prohibits blocking intersections. Officials want to add the northbound lane of Waterbury Road and the driveway for the Prospect Volunteer Fire Department, 26 New Haven Road, to the ordinance. Drivers who block intersections stated in the ordinance are subject to a fine.