CHANGES TO CITY OF BRENHAM NOISE RULES IN THE WORKS

  

The City of Brenham is working toward setting uniform rules in a new noise nuisance ordinance.

In a half-hour work session Thursday, the Brenham City Council gave staff feedback to use in reviewing and updating the city’s noise provisions.

Legal and Legislative Services Manager Karen Stack said the goal of the discussion was to provide the framework for a new ordinance to clarify the city’s existing guidelines on noise, including decibel measurements, sound level limits for zoning districts, and objective versus subjective standards.

 

The new ordinance would categorize some noises as always allowed with a few exceptions, and others as always disallowed without regard to decibel level.  Noises that are not specifically accepted or prohibited would be subject to the maximum decibel levels, depending on the zoning area and the time of day.

Examples of allowed noises would include daytime lawn maintenance, alarms during an emergency, properly maintained HVAC equipment, city and school events, and events with an applicable permit.  Some prohibited noises would be yelling outside during night hours, keeping a noisy animal, or operating a vehicle with music that can be heard from 50 feet.

Current sound level limits in residential zoning districts allow for 50 decibels in exterior noise levels during the hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and 55 decibels from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.  In commercial-mixed use zoning districts, the limit is 62 decibels all day, while the limit for industrial zoning areas is 85 decibels all day.

Stack proposed that the city transition to issuing staff-approved noise permits instead of council-approved noise variances.  She said the change would eliminate the need for variances unless an event is longer than three days.  Noise permits that are denied can be appealed to the council.  The council was in favor of moving toward a noise permit model.

One of the questions posed to the council by Stack was if allowed uses in a particular zoning area should trump decibel limits for that zone.  She also asked the council if there are two abutting zones with different decibel amounts allowed, which decibel limit should apply.  The council preferred using the least restrictive decibel limit when considering two adjoining zones with different sound restrictions.

Councilmembers Shannan Canales and Leah Cook said to keep in mind as new rules are developed that Brenham has many live music venues and is designated as a “Texas Music Friendly City”.

Stack said she will bring a draft ordinance to the council for review soon.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's council meeting.