HOLMES BEACH – Written by Holmes Beach residents Dick and Margie Motzer, a letter to the editor that recently appeared in The Sun resulted in an impromptu Holmes Beach Planning Commission discussion about the city’s noise ordinance.
The letter pertained to the city commission’s recent approval of the Island Bazaar site plan at Gulf and Marina Drives. The commission approval includes a stipulation that limits the volume of the miniature golf course’s ambient music to 50 decibels.
“That level of protection is now only in this one geographic region, at the old Wells Fargo location,” the Motzers’ letter said. “We think the city needs to take action to apply that same daytime 50-decibel level city-wide.”
Planning Commissioner Lisa Pierce mentioned the letter during the planning commission’s Jan. 15 meeting.
“I would say what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. That sounds like a good idea everywhere,” she said.
Holmes Beach Director of Development Services Chad Minor noted that the city’s standard daytime volume limit is 75 decibels.
City commissioners did not amend the noise ordinance when approving the Island Bazaar site plan, they simply included a volume stipulation specific to that property, he said.
The planning commission’s primary assignment is to review city matters for compliance with the city’s comprehensive plan, the document that sets forth the city’s overall vision for future development and redevelopment.
Minor said the city’s noise regulations are addressed in the Land Development Code (LDC) and the planning commission would need city commission authorization to review regulations contained in the LDC. Minor said the planning commission could send one of its members to a city commission meeting to request that authorization.
“I think 50 (decibels) is really low,” Planning Commissioner Richard Brown opined.
Planning Commissioner Steve Oelfke praised Island Bazaar developer Jake Spooner for being receptive to the city commission’s volume request, but he said other developers may not be as accommodating. Oelfke expressed support for reviewing the noise ordinance as it relates to the comprehensive plan.
The planning commissioners agreed to place Minor’s suggestion on the agenda for formal discussion at their Wednesday, Feb. 5 meeting.
