Granby Board of Selectmen Accepts Recreational Vehicle Report

The Granby Board of Selectmen received the findings of the Recreational Vehicle Subcommittee at its Oct. 7 meeting. The subcommittee was formed in response to the controversy surrounding the use of recreational vehicles - mostly dirt bikes - in town.

The committee issued its final report Aug. 30 with the recommendation that the Granby Planning and Zoning Commission encourage the Board of Selectmen to adopt a comprehensive noise ordinance, enforceable by the town’s police department.

The board voted Oct. 7 simply to accept the report, referring it to the town manager and staff to respond to and provide the council guidance on it, First Selectman John Adams explained.

Before the board took action on the issue, it would first place the item on the agenda to alert the public.

During the public comment period, one resident, Eric Meyers, spoke on the issue, urging the board to defeat the proposed noise ordinance. 

Myers said he had concerns “about allocating valuable police resources to sneaking around with noise meters to determine whether some noise activity taking place either residentially or commercially exceeds some arbitrary threshold after an intolerant neighbor complains.”

He went on to ask whether such a noise ordinance could mean the prohibition of sporting events, music at Salmon Brook Park, residents’ parties, lawn equipment, hunting, fireworks, farming and other activities that produce noise – all at the whim of someone who might complain

The possibility of a town noise ordinance has been raised before.

“This same issue came before us previously … at that point we all decided ‘no’ on the noise ordinance for a lot of the reasons mentioned by Mr. Meyers,” said Vice Chairman Sally King, adding that the council would certainly review it again.

Adams said that noise ordinances have previously needed state approval and while at the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities annual meeting, he raise the issue with an official and was told the state is trying to do away with noise regulations, Adams told the council. 

Read more about the Recreational Vehicles Subcommittee report and its findings here.