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must establish
true nuisances
Columbus County may seem quiet compared to nearby coastal communities, but a practical noise ordinance is needed to keep the peace.
The county commissioners tabled the latest version of the ordinance until the new commissioners take over. They discussed the issue at their most recent meeting, which was also attended by a large number of hunters concerned about possible restrictions being placed on their hunting dogs.
Dogs can be quite a nuisance, but at the same time, hunting and hunting dogs are time-honored traditions here.
The most common aggravating noise nuisance results from music coming from parties and parked or moving vehicles with monster sound systems. That’s a problem that can usually be resolved with a warning or citation from a deputy.
The more problematic issues deal with noise-makers like large dog pens and race tracks.
On one hand, baying coon dogs or the sporadic barker aren’t long-term issues, but on the other hand, nobody wants to live within 50 feet of a pen of a dozen beagles that bark at the shadows throughout the night – every night. Nor does somebody deserve to be disturbed by the weekend mechanic revving car motors 24/7.
The confrontation of lifestyles between the homeowner seeking a peaceful existence and those who have loud hobbies, habits or traditions, is another reason why county zoning needs to be considered in the future, because in many instances, this is a zoning issue rather than a noise issue.
Zoning, for example, wouldn’t allow someone to build a commercial garage next to a quiet neighborhood. Enforcing a noise ordinance with deputies is going to be a stretch to start with, so an ounce of prevention with zoning would be worth a pound of cure.
In the meantime, however, the next group of commissioners should adopt an ordinance that deals with the most serious and common offenses (namely, loud music) while at the same time establishing reasonable guidelines to help preserve the peace, such as setting noise curfews when people are typically sleeping.
Good neighbors have a responsibility to control noise nuisances. Rarely are there instances where this can’t be accomplished with a little work and ingenuity.
People who live in the country should expect to be around dogs and to hear reports of shotguns and rifles from hunters, but at the same time, the commissioners are obligated to establish the sometimes fine line between what’s reasonable and what constitutes a bona fide nuisance.