Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Noise And Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Neighbors press Franklin to enforce sound limits as city schedules third‑party sound study site visit
Summary
Residents told the council the city has allowed repeated noise nuisances from ‘The Rock’ and delayed a contracted sound study; city staff said the hired firm JPM will visit Sept. 9–10 and that recent complaints were investigated.
Residents from several nearby neighborhoods pressed Franklin’s Common Council on Tuesday to accelerate a contracted third‑party sound study of The Rock and to enforce existing noise rules after years of repeated complaints.
Why it matters: Neighbors said the city had allowed hundreds of events to exceed residential decibel limits and urged stricter enforcement and timely mitigation. City officials said a contracted acoustical firm has agreed to a site visit and that staff are tracking complaints and monitor status.
What residents told the council Dana Ghent, speaking for the Hawthorne neighborhood, said the city approved more than 110 special permits for events at The Rock this year while a court‑ordered or contracted sound study had not had access to the site for much of the season. “During these delays, the city approved over 110 events to exceed established noise decibel elements meant to protect residential neighborhoods,” Ghent said. She told the council she had asked for a site‑access agreement and a halt to approvals until the acoustic study could be conducted and mitigation strategies reviewed.
Joy Draginna Zingales and other neighbors asked for pre‑event sound checks, confirmation that monitoring equipment will be live and functioning, and handheld monitors at events so officers can measure levels quickly rather than waiting to respond after events.
What city staff told the council City administration staff told the council that JPM, the contracted acoustical firm, is scheduled to arrive in Franklin Sept. 9 for preliminary work and to conduct a site visit Sept. 10, and staff said they have asked JPM to bring neighbor representatives and three impacted addresses for the visit. The director of administration said JPM’s engineer will “study the land and the impact on the sound” and will be present for the Taco and Tequila event and other fall events to begin the study.
Police response and monitoring Mayor Nelson read a police update for the weekend saying the police department investigated eight noise complaints related to The Rock over the prior weekend and found them unsubstantiated. The mayor urged the public to distinguish between the count of complaints and substantiated violations; police and administration staff said they were also reviewing whether monitors were recording and whether any citations were appropriate.
What neighbors want next Neighbors asked for: a guaranteed, complete site visit by the acoustical firm before additional large events are scheduled; proof that all monitoring equipment is operating and that data will be publicly available; pre‑event sound checks when promoters stage events close to neighborhood boundaries; and clear accountability when monitors are turned off or go offline.
What to watch next City staff said JPM will be in Franklin Sept. 9–10 and that staff will update the council on JPM’s findings and any recommended mitigation. The council did not take formal action on the sound‑study timing at the meeting; residents said they plan to follow up with city staff on the monitoring dashboard and enforcement steps.
Ending City staff indicated they will provide an update to the public after JPM’s site visit and will work with police and the promoter to ensure monitors are operational for events, citing a goal of balancing event operations with residential quality‑of‑life protections.
