Chaffee County reviews June ‘Meadows’ festival after noise, traffic and safety concerns

Chaffee County commissioners reviewed a post-event report on the June festival held at The Meadows and heard residents and public-safety officials describe noise complaints, traffic congestion and medical incidents tied to the event. Planning staff said the event drew about 10,000 attendees and that a sound-monitoring report showed average readings near 99 dBA with a maximum recorded level of 104 dBA (the permit limit was 105 dBA); a different measure that better captures bass energy averaged about 114 dBC.

The county’s planning director said the stage lighting met the county’s dark-sky standards and that sound monitors recommended adding C-weighted (dBC) limits to future permits because bass frequencies at electronic-music events can travel farther. The county’s emergency medical services reported roughly 350 patient visits to on-site medical tents; the sheriff’s office logged about 30 outside noise complaints and four arrests, the post-event packet said.

The rep…