Borough says noise complaints to go by numbers

PALMER — Noisy neighbors beware: The Mat-Su Borough is coming for you and it’s bringing a decibel meter.

The Borough Assembly voted this week to implement decibel limits for what is acceptable noise from amplified sound equipment and motorized model vehicles.

Palmer resident Jerry Baker said she was particularly happy for the latter, as a model airplane airfield near her home disturbs her quiet time during the summer months.

“This is like living next to a huge commune of chainsaws,” Baker said.

David Pepper, pastor of Church on the Rock in Wasilla, said his church had been cited under the previous code, which said that a violation occurred if a reasonable person sensed vibration. His church was cited after neighbors complained about the worship music coming from inside. He is happy to see more concrete requirements for citations.

“I don’t think it was ever intended to apply to a house of worship or a church,” Pepper said.

Borough code compliance chief Robert Guertin said his department has had a decibel meter for a number of years. The meter will now go with code compliance officers on noise complaint calls. New officers will be trained in how to use it.

Officers won’t go out to measure sound on the first complaint, Guertin said.

“If we get a complaint from a neighbor saying, ‘Hey he’s playing this music too loud’ … we’ll probably write him a first letter saying, ‘Hey we’ve received a complaint.’”

If another complaint comes in, his office will send out the decibel meters and if they show a violation the person will be ticketed. Guertin said the new code specifies noise has to travel across property lines to be a disturbance. The decibel meters will therefore be used to measure noise at or behind the property line on the complainant’s side.

The code, as it now reads, prohibits amplified sounds louder than 50 decibels between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. weeknights and 60 decibels all other times.

For powered model vehicles, the limit is 5 decibels above ambient sound in residential area or 3 decibels above ambient sound in noise-sensitive areas.

Pepper isn’t the first ticketed person to complain the previous ordinance was vague. In 2004, Bob Stevens, owner of the now-defunct Fishheads Bar and Grill, was ticketed multiple times for disturbing his neighbors.

Stevens fought the citations, complaining loudly about the ordinance, saying it was unfairly written and that the noise wasn’t coming from his club. He went so far as to install decibel meters on the dance floor. Eventually, he lost the case.