Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 17, 1990 TAG: 9003172532
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FINCASTLE LENGTH: Medium
The board reviewed a proposed noise ordinance aimed at off-road motorcycles, barking dogs and other disturbances and scheduled a public hearing on the ordinance for April 16.
The ordinance was drafted by Commonwealth's Attorney William Heartwell at the request of the board in response to recent citizen complaints about noise.
Homeowners in the Rainbow Forest subdivision are upset over unmuffled "dirt bike" motorcycles being operated on private property in their neighborhood.
Other county residents have complained about barking dogs. Both groups say they feel powerless in getting their neighbors to control the noise because there are no local noise laws that county deputies can enforce.
The proposed ordinance would make it a misdemeanor to operate more than one motor vehicle at one time on private property in county residential areas or to operate any vehicle without factory-installed mufflers.
In addition, "Owning, keeping, possessing or harboring any animal which frequently or habitually howls, barks, meows, squawks or makes such other noise" would be prohibited, the draft ordinance states.
Trash collection, construction work, automobile repairs, truck loading, sounding a car horn and operating audio equipment at excessive levels also would be limited during posted hours in residential areas under the new law.
The board also reviewed a proposed amendment to the Botetourt litter ordinance aimed at curbing the growing amount of garbage dumped illegally in the county.
The amendment would require a person to clean up any illegal dump site where his or her name is found in the garbage, like on envelopes for example.
The person would then have to prove that he or she wasn't responsible for the illegal garbage.
The board expressed reservations about the proposed amendment, saying that the potential exists for innocent people to be blamed for dump sites just because their trash ends up there.
County Administrator John Williamson agreed. "There's a possibility that someone could be falsely accused and falsely convicted," he said.
But he and other board members said that illegal dumping in the county is increasing and action of some kind is needed. A public hearing on the amendment also will be held April 16.
In other business, the board approved a special zoning permit to allow for the building of a trucking terminal in the Botetourt Industrial Park off Virginia 822. The permit was requested by LMS Partnership, Stan Lanford and B&S Transportation Services.
by CNB