FORESTBURGH - At the August 7th Forestburgh Town Board meeting, a group of concerned residents urged the Board to strengthen its noise ordinance after three consecutive summers of loud music and large gatherings in a residential subdivision.

Neighbors of the Hartwood Road area described repeated disturbances from a nearby property that has hosted multi-day festivals featuring loud music, amplified instruments and heavy traffic. 

Resident Elizabeth Grunt explained that the current Town Code lacks clear limits on noise levels, making it difficult for law enforcement to intervene. She expressed that “without a set decibel limit or quiet hours in place, the officers can’t resolve the issue.”

Under existing rules, there is no official measurement standard or defined decibel level of noise. While some residents have attempted to use cellphone apps to record the sound, Town officials noted that phone-based apps can be inaccurate.

Town Supervisor Dan Hogue acknowledged that he has personally heard the noise, but emphasized the challenge of defining what is considered “too loud” without unintentionally impacting everyday life. 

“We want to address the problem but we also want to be fair,” stated Hogue.

He noted that a professional decibel reader may be required as his phone app measured the noise as being no louder than a lawnmower. 

Hogue further stated that he has reached out to the Town Attorney and Code Enforcement to further investigate the issue. Code Enforcement has since been able to confirm that there are currently no set decibel limits on record and no permits were issued to the property for such gatherings.

Residents are asking the Town to explore solutions such as setting specific quiet hours or obtaining a professional device that will help establish maximum allowable decibel levels, as well as requiring permits for large events.

The discussion is set to continue at upcoming board meetings as the Board explores the options for possible updates to the Town’s noise ordinance, with a suggestion to review neighboring towns’ ordinances for guidance.