Residents of a local community are calling for stricter regulations on the use of leaf blowers, citing noise pollution as a significant disturbance to their daily lives. During a recent town meeting, community members expressed their frustration over the incessant sound of leaf blowers, likening it to living next to a construction site. They argue that the current guidelines, which permit the use of leaf blowers every day from 9 AM to 5 PM, are insufficient to protect their right to peace and quiet.

The existing regulations limit noise output to 65 decibels at a distance of 50 feet. However, residents have recorded instances of leaf blowers exceeding this limit, with one device measuring 82 decibels at the same distance. Given the logarithmic nature of decibel measurements, this level of noise is perceived to be approximately 2.5 times louder than the allowed limit, raising concerns about the cumulative impact of multiple leaf blowers operating simultaneously.

In light of these issues, the community is petitioning the town to implement reasonable restrictions on leaf blower usage. They point to recent actions taken by Southern Village, which successfully amended its homeowners association rules to ban gas-powered leaf blowers. While this move has been celebrated as a victory for that community, residents remain cautious about the future, noting that advancements in battery technology could lead to electric blowers producing noise levels comparable to their gas-powered counterparts.

The call for change reflects a growing awareness of the need for noise control measures in residential areas, as community members seek to reclaim their right to a quieter living environment.