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New Castle Residents Make Noise About Ordinance

NEW CASTLE, N.Y. -- The New Castle Town Board held three public hearings on proposed amendments to New Castle Town Code Tuesday evening at town hall.

The public hearings focused on the unauthorized rummaging and/or removal of refuse containers and adding provisions to the town code regarding affordable and fair housing units.

The public hearing that drew the most outcry was on a noise ordinance brought forth by the board, proposing that no one should perform work on their homes, or work done by an outside contractor, that creates noise exceeding 45 decibels after 6:30 p.m. during the week, and 7:00 p.m. on the weekends. The proposed law also states that no work may be done for more than four hours during any 28-hour period.

Several residents voiced their opposition to the proposed law, arguing that the measure as it stands does not fit their needs.

“There needs to be an exception made for properties which are greater than 10 acres," said Roger Blanc, who filed the letter proposing the ordinance. “I think it would be a reasonable exception if the work does not occur within 100 feet of the property line.”

For Rob Greenfeld, it was the time limitation that he said he most disagreed with. "This law really limits the time we can do things in our yards,” he said. “The length of time in the day and the four hour window in 28 hours is a hardship.”

“This ordinance limits the effectiveness of the work of homeowners and work crews,” said Martin Huet, a resident of Chappaqua. “It’s very restrictive. We can only work on homes six hours a weekend as according to this law, which could force some homeowners [who] like to do yard work themselves to go to work crews.”

In the end, the town board decided move forward with the proposed law. They opted to include the residents' concerns and return the issue back to another public hearing in two weeks.

The affordable housing hearing was adjourned until two weeks from now to allow for further public comment on the hotly contested issue.

The proposed amendment to New Castle Town Code regarding the unauthorized opening and rummaging in refuse containers was approved as an anti-theft provision to safeguard the residents of New Castle.

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