Changes are coming to Riverside County's noise ordinance after the board of supervisors' recent unanimous vote to begin the process following concerns from the community about enforcement of the ordinance already on the books.
According to a news release from the board of supervisors, members want to establish a "clear and effective" ordinance that will balance the public's right to peace while also allowing nighttime events to take place.
“I do look forward to meeting with folks in our communities to really discuss what an ordinance will look like from the ground up not from the top down. That’s what I’m hoping for," Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, who represents the Fourth District, said during an April 18 meeting. "Mind you, this is an ordinance that’s countywide and even though we have our struggles in the eastern Coachella, there are other struggles in the Fifth District … in the Third District, in the Second District, in the First District, so whatever we come up with needs to have some sort of balance.”
Members of the community, including ranchos' operators in the Coachella Valley, had expressed concerns over the existing county-wide ordinance, according to the release. The planning department has been tasked with finding different ways to, both measure and regulate noise, and present its proposed modifications to the board.
The press release pointed out that ranchos are expansive agricultural estates that have a primary house, but the properties are often used for a number of celebrations including: birthdays, quinceañeras, weddings, baptisms, and other family and cultural events. Last month, Perez asked the planning department to develop a new county ordinance that would create a new land-use category for ranchos in the Coachella Valley, which could be the first of its kind. The county is currently working on a draft ordinance that will identify ranchos' locations, within the fourth district, and specify which activities will be permitted. Once approved, the ordinance would provide more options than what is currently allowed under the countywide temporary events and zoning ordinances.
Community members, who would like to comment on changes to the noise ordinance, are encouraged to send their thoughts to the planning department by emailing: Planning@rivco.org.