The Holmes Beach Commission is working diligently on the Island Bazaar site plan for the old Wells Fargo location in addressing the noise issue, the discussion of which was initiated by the mayor. We learned long ago that noise is a difficult issue to understand unless you have actually experienced it. It is an issue that has been greatly researched, and the mayor’s dialogue touched on some of what is deeply rooted in that research, and that is that there can be negative impacts. The reduction to 50 decibels during the day in this resolution was noteworthy; it will be great for the mayor and her family, who live nearby.
We all know that we have lost many residents, and for some, noise was a contributing factor. Sometimes the sustained shouting, yelling and screaming in our neighborhoods is what forced people out. For years, noise was mischaracterized, and residential zones were misreferenced as vacation rental districts, resort zones or commercial zones, although the zone should have no bearing since the noise control ordinance is citywide. It took seven years for reprieve for us, and although the situation is better, it is not 50 decibels during the day.
That level of protection is now only in this one geographic region, at the old Wells Fargo location. It may not have been the intent to deny equal protection to others within the city, but it is reasonable that all residents should be protected equally regardless of where they live. Many residents have been exposed to similar levels of sustained and repetitive noise; we are not seeing any reason that others should be treated differently. It is reasonable that equal protection, both literally and figuratively, should be provided to everyone in the city and that there should be even enforcement.
Considering that the 14th Amendment grants equal protection, we think the city needs to take action to apply that same daytime 50 decibel level citywide.
Dick and Margie Motzer
Holmes Beach
