McCORDSVILLE — Officials in McCordsville are considering changing the town’s noise rules to allow an event venue to have a higher sound threshold at future nearby developments.
The town council directed staff Tuesday night to develop an amendment to McCordsville’s noise ordinance that would permit a higher decibel level measured on Daniel’s Vineyard’s border with a yet-to-be-developed 80-acre property to its east. If passed, it would allow the business at 9061 N. County Road 700W to reach 74 decibels on its eastern border between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Daniel’s Vineyard would have to continue following existing, lower sound level rules at all of its other property lines.
Town council members’ proposal stemmed from an amendment on their agenda Tuesday to set all existing commercial properties’ daytime sound limits at 74 decibels for properties developed in the future. Council members decided to consider scaling the proposed change down to just the property east of Daniel’s Vineyard, however. The council will consider the new amendment at its October meeting.
The town’s limits for commercial properties are now 66 decibels between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and 64 decibels between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. According to Purdue University, 60 decibels is comparable to conversation in a restaurant or office, background music and an air conditioning unit from 100 feet. A vacuum cleaner is about 70 decibels, and a passenger car at 65 mph from 25 feet is 77 decibels.
Noise complaints from neighbors of Daniel’s Vineyard started the debate that ended last December with the town’s noise ordinance. Not long before the town council set its current noise standards, Daniel’s Vineyard announced it was closing to the public and shifting its business model to hosting private events. Before that, it had played host to evening concerts.
Residential areas border the 75-acre Daniel’s Vineyard property on its north, south and west sides. McCordsville officials were motivated to consider the change to its noise rules because tests indicated sound produced at the venue can exceed currently allowed decibel levels on its eastern border. While the property east of Daniel’s Vineyard remains undeveloped, leaders wanted to consider ways for the business to carry on as it has if and when houses go up in that area.
Council members Bryan Burney, Tom Strayer, Branden Williams and Barry Wood voted in favor of directing town staff to consider the amendment, while Larry Longman voted against.
Longman said it would complicate the town’s ability to enforce noise rules.
“I would just rather see consistency than have different limits that apply to different areas of town,” he said.
Tonya Galbraith, McCordsville town manager, read an email from Daniel’s Vineyard co-owner Daniel Cook at the council meeting stating the business will adhere to existing decibel level requirements and the one being considered for 74 decibels measurable at future developments.
Galbraith also said that Steve Vail, one of the owners of the property east of Daniel’s Vineyard, told her he doesn’t feel the proposed new limits would be detrimental to the property.
McCordsville Town Councilman Barry Wood and other officials said if the amendment is passed, it will be important for future potential buyers of the property east of Daniel’s Vineyard to understand that the daytime sound limit is 74 decibels.
“They need to have something in place to make sure that their prospective buyers understand: This is what the rule is for your property,” Wood said.
McCordsville Police Chief Paul Casey said an officer responded to a noise complaint stemming from an event at Daniel’s Vineyard on Aug. 18, but that the officer reported sound levels between 47 and 53 decibels — well under the 66-decibel threshold allowed at that time of day.
Casey also said noise complaints are “very rare” across town and that when they do come in, they usually have to do with loud animals.
Six meeting attendees spoke in opposition of the proposed amendment and three spoke in favor.
Bob Holzbach of McCordsville said the current noise rules should apply townwide. Mark Helle, also of McCordsville, said the town should collect more data before officials make a decision.
McCordsville resident Scott Hines called Daniel’s Vineyard a boon for the town and said the proposed amendment is a good compromise.
