Rathdrum addresses nuisance noises

By KEITH ERICKSON

Staff Writer

As homes continue to be built at an unprecedented pace, the city of Rathdrum has discovered a new growing pain: Noise.

Builders eager to finish houses are working longer hours, which has led to complaints about noise during early morning and late-evening hours.

“What we’re running into in some of the newer developments is they’re completing houses so quickly they’re able to put them on the market and get folks moving in when the house across the street is still under construction,” Rathdrum city planner Cary Siess said. “So we have fielded complaints.”

Previously, the city addressed noise issues with a meter that measured how loud they were. But, Siess said, that wasn’t always feasible: Doing so necessitates a city official be present with a noise meter while the violation was occurring. While this might work in some larger cities, it isn’t a solution in Rathdrum.

“Policing noise violations became a real nightmare,” she said.

Under revisions to the city’s sound ordinance that will be reviewed by the planning commission next month, violations would be categorized by time of day, not decibel level. During certain hours, loud noises such as mowing the lawn, construction or loud music would be prohibited. Hard proof from a decibel meter would not be required to cite the offender.

Barking dogs will not be affected by the potential change in the rules: Dogs are already regulated.

“That’s the only aspect of loud noises currently addressed,” Siess said.

Since joining the city about a year ago, Siess has been looking at several city ordinances that need fine-tuning.

Other changes being considered by city officials include laws that regulate front yards and driveways.

Under existing city law, grass must be planted from the street to the front of the house. Only one tree is allowed.

“People with flowers or bushes or beautiful landscaping were technically in violation,” Siess said. “We wanted to provide flexibility on what is common practice.”

Existing building code states that drive paths behind and beside a house must be paved. Under looser verbiage being considered by city planners, gravel driveways would be permitted.

With rapid growth in Rathdrum expected to continue, Siess said her staff would continue to propose amendments to the code.

A glimpse at U.S. Census data confirms the building boom. In 2000, Rathdrum had a population of 4,816. That grew to 6,826 in 2010. The city’s estimated population was 8,281 by 2017.