FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Music Pavilion can continue to operate at the Washington County Fairgrounds.
Fayetteville planning commissioners on Monday unanimously extended the AMP’s conditional use permit for the 2013-14 seasons, despite some concern from residents about loud noises emanating from the outdoor concert venue.
According to Jesse Fulcher, a Fayetteville planner, the city received complaints during 10 of the AMP’s 14 performances last year. One of those complainants, Terri Phelan, said she could hear loud bass, guitar riffs and singing from her house on North Maxwell Drive.
“If I had wanted to live closer to Dickson Street and music, I would have purchased a house closer to Dickson Street,” Phelan said. “The AMP, from my perspective, is a nuisance.”
At A Glance
AMP Access
As part of Monday’s conditional use permit, planning commissioners barred AMP officials from using a stretch of the recently completed Meadow Valley Trail to access parking in a field southwest of the concert venue.
Drivers will be only be able to use the trail to get to Porter Road when leaving the AMP.
Matt Mihalevich, Fayetteville trails coordinator, said early evening vehicular traffic would pose safety risks for trail users.
Brian Crowne, the AMP’s general manager, said an additional access point would alleviate preconcert traffic jams. He said cars are often backed up on Interstate 540 before a show at the AMP begins.
Source: Staff Report
Lt. Brian Waters said police officers routinely measure sound levels during concerts and haven’t found the AMP to violate the city’s noise ordinance.
The ordinance limits noise in residential zones to 60 decibels between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. and 55 decibels after 11 p.m. Mayor Lioneld Jordan last year approved a variance for the AMP, allowing 85 decibels until 11 p.m. and 75 decibels between 11 p.m. and midnight.
According to a noise chart provided by city staff, 60 decibels is roughly equivalent to conversational speech, and 85 decibels is similar to the sound of a passing diesel truck.
Brian Crowne, general manager for the AMP, said concert organizers try to heed residents’ concerns by letting performers know about the city’s noise requirements.
“We genuinely do not want to invade the sanctity of somebody’s home,” Crowne said. “It’s not every night. It’s not every weekend. It is a special event.”
Crowne said the fairgrounds are meant to be a temporary location for the AMP. He said concert organizers are committed to the site in 2013, but will continue to explore options for a more permanent venue in 2014 and beyond.
Jeff Pederson, an east Fayetteville resident who spoke at Monday’s meeting, urged commissioners to support the AMP’s permit request. He said the concert venue brings thousands of out-of-town guests and spending to Fayetteville and prevents him from traveling to Tulsa or Little Rock to see a marquee show.
“Until such time that Fayetteville has the ability to develop a venue that can support these types of shows, I think that we should use every asset we have at our disposal to help keep them coming and growing,” Pederson said.