Blowing Rock amends

noise ordinance
By Jeff Eason

With three new construction projects in the works for downtown Blowing Rock, the town’s board of commissioners decided to “nip in the bud” any noise problems residents of the community might experience in the next two years.

The board voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve a new noise ordinance that would substantially curb construction noise on weekends while allowing citizens to have ample time for small home repairs and lawn maintenance.

The new noise ordinance allows for “construction operations and/or sanitation collection services from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Construction activities are prohibited on Sunday and the following holidays or religious observances: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.”

Lawn mowers, weed trimmers, agricultural equipment and landscape maintenance equipment may be used between the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The move was motivated in part by the initiation of three upcoming construction projects: the new multi-level parking deck behind Blowing Rock Memorial Park, the proposed Blowing Rock Art and History Museum in downtown Blowing Rock and the Chetola-Severn Main Street Village project that will be constructed on 7-plus acres across Main Street from the Meadowbrook Inn.

Lone dissenting voter council member Tommy Klutz expressed concern that the new ordinance would unfairly hinder out-of-town owners of Blowing Rock residences and businesses trying to make repairs or upgrades to their properties on weekends.

Penalties for construction firms defying the noise ordinance start at a verbal warning from the Blowing Rock Police Department and escalate gradually to a $500 fine per offense.

The board of commissioners also voted to use the new parking deck as the home for the monthly Art in the Park events from May through October 2009.

Because of a previous lease agreement between the town of Blowing Rock and the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, Art in the Park was scheduled to be held on the parking deck in May and June. Tuesday night’s decision makes that locale the home for Art in the Park throughout the entire year.

Other possible locales for Art in the Park discussed Tuesday included Blowing Rock Memorial Park and Park Avenue. Both locations faced strong opposition from some council members and the decision to keep Art in the Park in the new parking deck for the entire 2009 season seemed to be a compromise that suited all parties involved.

The Board of Commissioners promised to revisit the matter in a timely matter to see if a better location might be agreed upon for the 2010 Art in the Park season.

A spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce stated that the number of vendors for Art in the Park will be reduced from around 120 for the 2008 season to 95 for the 2009 season, due to space constraints of the new parking deck location. She also stated that because of the current economic climate, the Chamber has decided not to raise vendor fees next year to make up the difference in total vendor fees received.

The Board’s decision to place Art in the Park in the new parking deck for the entire season passed by a 3-2 vote. The dissenting voters expressed concern that the new parking deck was approved precisely for events such as Art in the Park and filling it full of vendor booths defeated the purpose of the deck. The new deck is scheduled for completion in March of 2009.

The move does not supercede the possibility of the Chamber of Commerce moving Art in the Park to Blowing Rock Memorial Park, providing that the Chamber and Town of Blowing Rock staff research the total cost of grounds-keeping, repairs, additional sidewalks, portable bathroom facilities and other amenities that would be required for the move, and gain approval for such move by the Board. Some council members expressed concern that a move to the park would require the monthly event to meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and that the cost of ramps, handrails and other items would be more than the Chamber could afford.

In other Blowing Rock news, the Board unanimously approved a $22,500 donation of water/sewer availability fees to the Blue Ridge Foundation for the new Bass Lake restroom facility.

It also voted unanimously to consider a revised Memorandum of Understanding for the High Country Rural Transportation Planning Organization, making finance meetings for the organization more open to the public.

The next Blowing Rock Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall.