Old Town Madison Heights residents seek limits on noise

Amherst County officials are reexamining laws on noise and a possible curfew in Old Town Madison Heights following complaints from residents.

The Board of Supervisors voted July 15 to authorize County Attorney J. Vaden Hunt to meet with Sheriff Jimmy Ayers to discuss upgrades to a noise ordinance currently limited to loud music. The board also directed Hunt to research a possible curfew for the Old Town Madison Heights area.

“It’s a neighborhood where people work day and night,” said Leon Parrish, the supervisor representing Old Town.

Several members of a recently-formed community action group in Old Town asked supervisors Tuesday to enact the measures based on residents’ concerns that young people are staying out too late. They suggested a curfew of 10 p.m.

“When I’m leaving for work at 11 p.m., there are children on the streets,” said Terri Evans, a lifelong resident in the area. “We all need to come together and find some way to get the kids off the streets.”

Both Calvin Carson, a resident of 30 years, and Parrish said Tuesday they have spotted underage children roaming the neighborhood as late as 2 a.m.

Having a curfew in place would give deputies more leverage in approaching them, Carson said. Noise is also becoming a major problem in the area, he said.

“Noise causes people to move out of neighborhoods,” he stated in a written letter to County Administrator Rodney Taylor. “This is one of many ways to help keep this community from becoming a breeding ground for crime.”

Steve Stinson, a Clark Street resident, said trail bikes and four-wheelers are especially loud.

Evans, vice president for the community group that meets monthly at Madison Heights Baptist Church, said the Old Town area from the U.S. 29 Bypass to the James River has received a bad reputation due to drugs.

“We as a group would like to change that reputation,” Evans said.

County officials have targeted the area for revitalization.

Supervisor Ray Vandall said Tuesday he has talked about an upgraded noise ordinance with Ayers. It should be countywide, he said, but designed mainly for residential and commercial districts.

“I don’t want to infringe on people who own large lots,” said Vandall.

There is also a need, Vandall said, to have a precise and enforceable ordinance in place.

The county doesn’t have any neighborhood curfew laws now. Stinson suggested Old Town is a good place to experiment.

“It is a controversial issue,” said Supervisor Chris Adams. “I’d like to have some information back on it.”