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SPIN2020-09 - VARIANCE NOISE ORDINANCE FOR TIMARRON COUNTRY CLUB SPIN MEETING REPORT SPIN Item Number: SPIN2020-09 City Case Number: N/A Project Name: Variance to Southlake City Code SPIN Neighborhood: 9 Meeting Date: April 28, 2020 Meeting Location: 1400 Main Street, Southlake, TX City Council Chambers Total Attendance: Virtual Host: Sherry Berman, Community Engagement Committee Applicant(s) Presenting: Aaron Clary City Staff Present: Jerod Potts, Policy & Strategic Initiative Principal Planner Town Hall Forums can be viewed in their entirety by visiting http://www.cityofsouthlake.com and clicking on “I Want to” and “View” “Video on Demand” – forums are listed under SPIN by meeting date. FORUM SUMMARY: Property Situation: The property is located south of E. Continental Blvd., east of Bent Creek Dr., north of State Hwy 26, and west of Byron Nelson Pkwy. Development Details: The applicant is proposing a permanent variance to the Southlake City Code (Chapter 11, Article III – Noise Nuisances) to allow for golf course maintenance to occur at 6:00 AM at Timarron Country Club Presentation: Questions and Concerns: Q: Can you clarify what this request is for? I already thought there was an allowance to begin golf course maintenance at 6:00 AM. A: We do not have a variance and must abide by the current noise ordinance which states work begins at 7:00 AM and concludes at 9:00 PM C: From where I live, we can hear the motorized equipment all the time, and its rough. We do not understand the need to change the timing from 7:00 AM to 6:00 AM because 7:00 AM is already early. We are against this variance. C: Sympathize with other homeowners pertaining to increased noise on the golf course from maintenance, but that is expected when you purchase property on a golf course. Everybody hates noise, I do too, but there is a significant difference between gardening noise and maintenance noise. Hopefully, there is a compromise in this situation – no music, talking or yelling, no high-pitched equipment in the early hours? C: We can hear the mowers early in the morning and light does come through into our backyard area. Sound does travel, especially during the nighttime hours. We are against this variance. Q: Has Timarron Country Club been in violation of this noise ordinance for the past 25 years? A: We did begin golf course maintenance again and were visited by local authorities explaining that the maintenance work begins at 7:00 AM via the noise ordinance. C: Just because we live on a golf course does not mean we have to give up our rights as homeowners to wanting a peaceful place to live – we are against this variance. C: The mowers are very loud when they come by, and the mowing noises also causes the dogs in the neighborhood to begin barking. We prefer to not have all the noise early in the morning (i.e. 6:00 AM). We would appreciate any effort made to maintain peace and quiet in the morning hours. A: I do not want to say never, but I do not see a time where we would be mowing a fairway or green prior to 7:00 AM by your residence. C: We are against changing the ordinance for several reasons – first, we do hear golf course maintenance noise and we do not even live on the golf course (we live close); and second, this is a private enterprise, so this exception to the ordinance will allow other private enterprises to do the same (i.e. where does it stop?) Q: Regarding the sound decibel readings, were they average readings? A: I wish the sound worked in the presentation, because the spikes on the sound decibel were related to the golf course superintendent (Aaron) speaking. Q: Can the golf course maintenance use electric motors prior to 7:00 AM? A: We did looked into using electric motors, but they do not produce the quality of cut that commercial lawn mowing equipment has. C: The only issue we’ve had is hearing noise from the blowers around our fence. Do you use blowers around fences? A: We would not use the blower or rough unit prior to 7:00 AM SPIN Meeting Reports are general observations of SPIN Meetings by City staff and SPIN Representatives. The report is neither verbatim nor official meeting minutes; rather it serves to inform elected and appointed officials, City staff, and the public of the issues and questions raised by residents and the general responses made. Responses as summarized in this report should not be taken as guarantees by the applicant. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to follow the case through the Planning and Zoning Commission and final action by City Council. Southlake Connect Results for the April 28, 2020 SPIN Town Hall Forum