As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A-WEIGHTED SOUND LEVEL
The sound pressure level in decibels as measured on a sound
level meter using the A-weighted network. The level so read is designated
"dBA."
AMBIENT NOISE
The all-encompassing noise associated with a given environment,
being usually a composite of sounds from many sources.
COMMERCIAL AREA
A group of commercial properties and the abutting public
right-of-way and public spaces.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
Any premises, property, or facility involving traffic in
goods or furnishings of services for sale or profit, including but
not limited to:
(1)
Dining and/or drinking establishments;
(2)
Banking and other financial institutions;
(3)
Establishments for providing retail services;
(4)
Establishments for providing wholesale services;
(5)
Establishments for recreation and entertainment;
CONSTRUCTION
Any activity necessary or incidental to the erection, demolition,
assembling, altering, installing or equipping of buildings, public
or private highways, roads, premises, parks, utility lanes or other
property, including but not limited to related activities such as
land clearing, grading, earthmoving, excavating, blasting, filling
and landscaping, but not including agriculture.
dBA
The abbreviation designating the unit of sound level as measured
by a sound level meter using the A-weighting, also known as "dBA."
All references to "decibel" or "db" shall be presumed to mean "dBA"
unless otherwise specified.
DECIBEL
The practical unit of measurement for sound pressure level.
The number of decibels of a measured sound is equal to 20 times the
logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the sound pressure of the
measured sound to the sound pressure of a standard sound (20 micropascals),
abbreviated "dB."
DEMOLITION
Any dismantling, intentional destruction, or removal of buildings
or structures.
EMERGENCY
Any occurrence or circumstances involving actual or imminent
physical or property damage which demands immediate action.
EMERGENCY WORK
Any work or action necessary to deliver essential services,
including, but not limited to, repairing water, gas, electricity,
telephone, sewer facilities, or public transportation facilities,
removing fallen trees on public rights-of-way, dredging of waterways
or abating life-threatening conditions.
FREQUENCY
The number of sound pressure oscillations per second, expressed
in hertz, abbreviated "Hz."
Leq
This represents the average sound level of a varying sound
taken over a specified period of time. Leq is
the equivalent continuous sound which contains the same sound energy
as the time varying sound being measured.
Lmax
The highest value displayed on a sound meter during a noise
measurement period with the meter set on FAST response.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any vehicle that is propelled or drawn on land by an engine
or motor.
MUFFLER
A device or system for abating the sound of escaping gases
of an internal combustion engine.
NOISE
Any sounds of such level and duration as to be or tend to
be injurious to human health or welfare, or which would unreasonably
interfere with the enjoyment of life or property throughout the Town.
NOISE DISTURBANCE
Any sound which:
(1)
Endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals;
or
(2)
Annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities;
or
(3)
Endangers or injures personal or real property.
PERSON
Any individual, association, partnership, corporation or
other entity, and includes any officer, employee, department or agency
of the above.
PLAINLY AUDIBLE
Any sound that can be detected by a person using his or her
unaided hearing faculties. As an example, if the sound source under
investigation is a portable or personal vehicular sound amplification
or reproduction device, the enforcement officer need not determine
the title of a song, specific words, or the artist performing the
song. The detection of the rhythmic base component of the music is
sufficient to constitute a plainly audible sound.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
Any street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, sidewalk, alley,
or boardwalk that is leased, owned or controlled by a governmental
entity, no matter how designated.
PUBLIC SPACE
Any real property or structures thereon that are owned, leased,
or controlled by a governmental entity.
REAL PROPERTY LINE
Either:
(1)
The imaginary line, including its vertical extension, that separates
one parcel of real property from another; or
(2)
The vertical and horizontal boundaries of a dwelling unit that
is one in a multi-dwelling-unit building.
RESIDENTIAL AREA
A group of residential properties and the abutting public
rights-of-way and public spaces.
SOUND
An oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle
velocity or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces
that causes compression and rarefaction of that medium. The description
of sound may include any characteristic of such sound, including duration,
intensity and frequency.
SOUND LEVEL
The weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of
a sound level meter and frequency-weighting network, such as A, B,
or C as specified in American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
specifications for sound level meters. If the frequency weighting
employed is not indicated, the A-weighting shall apply.
SOUND LEVEL METER
Any instrument, including a microphone, amplifier, an output
meter, and frequency-weighting networks for the measurement of noise
and sound levels in a specific manner and which complies with standards
established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) specifications
for sound level meters, which complies with Type I or Type II standards.
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL
The level of a sound measured in dB units with a sound level
meter which has a uniform ("flat") response over the band of frequencies
measured.
SOUND REPRODUCTION DEVICE
Any device that is designed to be used or is actually used
for the production or reproduction of sound, including but not limited
to any amplified musical instrument, radio, television, tape recorder,
phonograph, loudspeaker, public-address system or any other sound-amplifying
device.
SOUND SOURCE
Any person, animal, device, operation, process, activity,
or phenomenon which emits or causes sound.
VIBRATION
An oscillatory motion of solid bodies of deterministic or
random natures described by displacement, velocity or acceleration
with respect to a given reference point.