Post by TOO $ on Mar 29, 2017 13:48:28 GMT -5
Well this blows...
www.newsadvance.com/nelson_county_times/news/changes-in-music-cutoff-times-may-be-ahead-for-lockn/article_1e143585-17eb-53a7-bacc-488cb4ebf40f.html
Planning Commission recommends approval of newly required Festival Grounds permit with conditions
With new temporary events regulations recently adopted by the Board of Supervisors and added to Nelson County’s zoning ordinance in January, Lockn’ patrons may see some changes in music times during the festival.
Following a public hearing during its monthly meeting last Wednesday, the Nelson County Planning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend approval of a newly required Festival Grounds special use permit for land that would be used during Lockn’ festivals, with specific amplified sound cutoff requirements.
Chairwoman Philippa Proulx, commission members Michael Harman, Linda Russell and Robert Goad and Board of Supervisors representative Thomas Bruguiere Jr. voted for the measure while Commissioner Mary Kathryn Allen voted against approving the Festival Grounds special use permit with the conditions.
The commissioners recommended Lockn’ — and any other events held on Lockn’ festival grounds, which cover more than 400 acres in Arrington — be required to abide by the requirements set forth in the newly adopted ordinance article.
The article states “amplified sound is not permitted after 11 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday night; nor after 11:59 p.m. on any Thursday night; nor after 1 a.m. on any Saturday and Sunday morning.”
If the supervisors approve the condition, it would apply to all stages, including two auxiliary stages used during Lockn’, the Blue Ridge Bowl and a stage in “The Woods.”
Additionally, the commissioners recommended the supervisors require music to end at midnight at the main stage every day of the festival, which begins on Thursday night and stretches to Sunday.
According to Planning and Zoning Director Tim Padalino, because the zoning ordinance previously lacked specific regulations for temporary events, noise restrictions for Lockn’ have in the past been “wide open.” He explained Lockn’ was not required to cut off music at a certain time in past years.
Russell said she voted to recommend the conditions so the county could “see what happens after a year.” She added she believes Lockn’ is “an intrusion on people’s property.”
Lockn’ organizers had asked the planning commission to allow them to extend the amplified sound cutoff time to 2 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the auxiliary stages. Organizer Mary Beth Aungier said the extra time would be part of a “wind-down” period.
Alcohol sales are stopped at midnight, she said, and the extended performances at the Blue Ridge Bowl and The Woods stages likely would cut down on the desire of patrons to form their own small parties at individual campsites, thus cutting down on potential problems law enforcement would have to deal with at sites spread across the grounds.
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, which heads up law enforcement during the weekend, could not be reached for comment as of press time on whether the extended time could alleviate potential issues.
Additionally, Aungier said the extended time would allow patrons to be able to enjoy more music on the auxiliary stages, because it could take more than 15 minutes for such a large crowd — Lockn’ typically draws more than 20,000 people — to disperse away from the main stage and toward the secondary stages.
Lockn’ organizers are required to obtain a Festival Grounds special use permit under the new zoning ordinance regulations, because the festival would fall under Category 3 temporary events. Category 3 temporary events, which are any events having or projecting more than 10,000 attendees, require the Festival Grounds permit before a temporary event permit can be issued.
Bruguiere said if Lockn’ wants to extend the music, organizers always have the option of beginning the festival earlier in the day.
During the public hearing, three residents who live near Lockn’ grounds complained about noise associated with the festival.
“I’m not a prude,” said Gary Helbert, a resident of Freshwater Cove Lane. “I don’t mind people having fun; I do mind people having fun at my expense.”
Lockn’ organizers maintain they try to be good neighbors to Nelson County residents.
Aungier said all contracted bands are told their music cannot exceed a certain decibel limit. Additionally, The Woods stage this year will be an acoustic stage with softer music, and the Blue Ridge Bowl is a much smaller stage with less sound equipment.
Hopefully Dave and Mary Beth can fix this...
www.newsadvance.com/nelson_county_times/news/changes-in-music-cutoff-times-may-be-ahead-for-lockn/article_1e143585-17eb-53a7-bacc-488cb4ebf40f.html
Planning Commission recommends approval of newly required Festival Grounds permit with conditions
With new temporary events regulations recently adopted by the Board of Supervisors and added to Nelson County’s zoning ordinance in January, Lockn’ patrons may see some changes in music times during the festival.
Following a public hearing during its monthly meeting last Wednesday, the Nelson County Planning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend approval of a newly required Festival Grounds special use permit for land that would be used during Lockn’ festivals, with specific amplified sound cutoff requirements.
Chairwoman Philippa Proulx, commission members Michael Harman, Linda Russell and Robert Goad and Board of Supervisors representative Thomas Bruguiere Jr. voted for the measure while Commissioner Mary Kathryn Allen voted against approving the Festival Grounds special use permit with the conditions.
The commissioners recommended Lockn’ — and any other events held on Lockn’ festival grounds, which cover more than 400 acres in Arrington — be required to abide by the requirements set forth in the newly adopted ordinance article.
The article states “amplified sound is not permitted after 11 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday night; nor after 11:59 p.m. on any Thursday night; nor after 1 a.m. on any Saturday and Sunday morning.”
If the supervisors approve the condition, it would apply to all stages, including two auxiliary stages used during Lockn’, the Blue Ridge Bowl and a stage in “The Woods.”
Additionally, the commissioners recommended the supervisors require music to end at midnight at the main stage every day of the festival, which begins on Thursday night and stretches to Sunday.
According to Planning and Zoning Director Tim Padalino, because the zoning ordinance previously lacked specific regulations for temporary events, noise restrictions for Lockn’ have in the past been “wide open.” He explained Lockn’ was not required to cut off music at a certain time in past years.
Russell said she voted to recommend the conditions so the county could “see what happens after a year.” She added she believes Lockn’ is “an intrusion on people’s property.”
Lockn’ organizers had asked the planning commission to allow them to extend the amplified sound cutoff time to 2 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the auxiliary stages. Organizer Mary Beth Aungier said the extra time would be part of a “wind-down” period.
Alcohol sales are stopped at midnight, she said, and the extended performances at the Blue Ridge Bowl and The Woods stages likely would cut down on the desire of patrons to form their own small parties at individual campsites, thus cutting down on potential problems law enforcement would have to deal with at sites spread across the grounds.
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, which heads up law enforcement during the weekend, could not be reached for comment as of press time on whether the extended time could alleviate potential issues.
Additionally, Aungier said the extended time would allow patrons to be able to enjoy more music on the auxiliary stages, because it could take more than 15 minutes for such a large crowd — Lockn’ typically draws more than 20,000 people — to disperse away from the main stage and toward the secondary stages.
Lockn’ organizers are required to obtain a Festival Grounds special use permit under the new zoning ordinance regulations, because the festival would fall under Category 3 temporary events. Category 3 temporary events, which are any events having or projecting more than 10,000 attendees, require the Festival Grounds permit before a temporary event permit can be issued.
Bruguiere said if Lockn’ wants to extend the music, organizers always have the option of beginning the festival earlier in the day.
During the public hearing, three residents who live near Lockn’ grounds complained about noise associated with the festival.
“I’m not a prude,” said Gary Helbert, a resident of Freshwater Cove Lane. “I don’t mind people having fun; I do mind people having fun at my expense.”
Lockn’ organizers maintain they try to be good neighbors to Nelson County residents.
Aungier said all contracted bands are told their music cannot exceed a certain decibel limit. Additionally, The Woods stage this year will be an acoustic stage with softer music, and the Blue Ridge Bowl is a much smaller stage with less sound equipment.
Hopefully Dave and Mary Beth can fix this...
