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Council adopts pilot to raise Level 3 sound-exceedance events from 30 to 50 with sunset
Summary
On second reading the council adopted an amendment to the noise ordinance allowing Level 3 performance centers to hold up to 50 sound-exceedance events during a pilot period, with a sunset date of Dec. 31, 2026; the measure passed on a 4-3 tally after staff clarified the change applies narrowly to Level 3 performance centers in the CBD or permitted
The Asheville City Council, on second reading, adopted an ordinance amending Section 10-88 of the city noise code to increase the number of Level 3 sound-exceedance event days from 30 to 50 as a time-limited pilot program, with a sunset of Dec. 31, 2026.
Mark McDade, development services director, told council the change applies only to Level 3 performance centers as defined in the code; the only existing Level 3 performance center is located in the downtown central business district (CBD), and the pilot could apply in a commercial district only to venues that qualify as Level 3. "Level 3 is the only one that talks about these numbers... the 1 that currently is standard is 30 and on the floor we're looking at the 50," McDade said.
Councilors debated whether to limit the pilot to fewer additional events (one councilor said they had proposed 30 to 35), and one councilor said they could not support the 50-event increase. A question was raised about whether staff or the venue owner had been asked how many events the owner could realistically schedule within the pilot's time frame; staff said they had not had that conversation.
The motion to adopt the ordinance carried on a raise-of-hands tally (4 in favor, 3 opposed). Council emphasized the pilot is time-limited and that the code applies narrowly to Level 3 performance centers; staff said permitting and venue requirements limit how quickly other venues could become eligible during the pilot period.
