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Acoustics tests show property-line levels below township limit; board weighs conditions for outdoor amplified events
Summary
An acoustical survey at South Street Gardens measured property-line levels generally under the township's 65 dB limit; the applicant asked the board to permit amplified outdoor events subject to owner-controlled systems and conditions; opponents urged caution, citing earlier resident recordings. The board carried the matter to May 18 to negotiate conditions and enforcement.
Noise and the question of whether amplified outdoor events can be permitted at South Street Gardens dominated a late portion of the April 15 hearing.
Applicant acoustical engineer Benjamin Mueller presented a March 25 sound survey that tested the facility's indoor house system and multiple worst-case outdoor speaker setups. Measurements near sources were high (mid-80s dB at speaker locations) but, according to Mueller's recorded measurements, decibel levels fell to low-to-mid 50s and low 60s at the nearest residential property lines depending on speaker placement and window status. Mueller concluded the tested scenarios were under the township's 65 dB property-line threshold and proposed technical controls — distributed speaker layouts, limiters and pre-event calibration — and administrative controls — owner-controlled systems rather than unregulated third-party amplifiers — to keep future events compliant.
Opponents pointed to a resident video in the record they said captured louder audio from an earlier event. Mueller said audibility on a phone recording does not necessarily indicate a code exceedance and that such matters are remediable with the controls he recommended; he also suggested the owner maintain a sound meter on site and perform calibrations prior to events. Board members expressed concerns about enforcement (how quickly the township can verify a complaint) and about the potential for repeat disturbances; they discussed possible conditions such as limits on number and timing of amplified events, mandatory owner control of amplification systems, pre-event property-line checks and a post-approval verification at CO.
The board did not decide whether to allow amplified outdoor music but said it would consider specific, enforceable conditions at a May 18 continuation. If the board allows outdoor amplification it appears likely to require owner-managed technical limits (e.g., system limiters or fixed-amplitude house systems), restrictions on vendor equipment, pre-event calibration and a mechanism for enforcement when complaints arise.
