Looks like residents against Ampitheaters at Vets Park is gaining steam. Last night’s Parks and Recs meeting turned to noise complaints although that wasn’t on the agenda. From The Hour:
For East Norwalkers with fresh memories of what some called “unreasonably loud” music generated by Sunday’s Colombian independence festival, last night’s discussion about the possible construction of an amphitheater at Veterans Memorial Park was a particularly timely issue.
Debbie Ross, a Seaview Avenue resident, said she thinks festival noise — private groups obtaining special permits are exempt from city noise ordinances — will persist if an amphitheater is built.
“It would probably make it worse. We’d have more concerts of different varieties and if you don’t have a decibel level for how loud you can make it…,” Ross said at Wednesday night’s Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Council Committee meeting.Committee members, who gathered to hear several items including a summary of a report investigating the viability of the amphitheater, and the payment of fees rendered by Project Development Advisor Diana Harrington, continually reminded members of the public that discussion was limited to the items on the agenda.
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Attending residents said they were upset not only by the noise, but by discussion of the amphitheater component when no updated master plan exists for Veterans Park.This amounts, some said, to “putting the cart before the horse.”
“The (area) is being subjected to this haphazard pattern of development that is inevitably going to infringe on the rights of the people surrounding the park,” Ed Pulice, Save Veterans Park Association founding member, said in an interview.
In May, a proposed miniature golf course slated for the area was killed by the mayor following neighborhood opposition to the idea, sparking conversation about whether a master plan is needed.
Last night Mocciae said funds left over from Cranbury Park construction could see the Veterans Park master plan — last created in 1984, and updated periodically since — reinvented this spring.
Many residents at the meeting voiced opposition to executing a viability study — which cost $36,000 — before a noise or environmental study was done.
Mocciae said the purpose of the study was to determine the feasibility of the $1 million project, and said it was a necessary step before concrete facts could be gathered and meaningful opinions formed.
source:: The Hour, Committee mulls park amphitheater, By AMANDA PINTO, July 19 2007
