Center Township will advertise an ordinance limiting the use of sound systems at amplified events from the hours of 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 3 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Residents of the township began raising concerns at supervisors meetings last June, when the Starlight Drive-in first began hosting live music events.

Gina Klopfer said she lives about four-tenths of a mile from the Starlight, and added she could hear the music from her home. Her concern now is how effective an ordinance would be at mitigating noise.

“All of my questions concern the measurement of sound,” she said. “I think we're going to stand there and see how many decibels the sound is.”

The ordinance will be up for a final vote at the July 14 supervisors meeting. If passed, event promoters would need to obtain a permit from the township for the use of amplifiers or sound systems at least 30 days before a scheduled event.

The sound systems would also have to be projected away from residences, and could not exceed 75 decibels 25 feet outside the property line at the location of the event.

Anyone who violates the ordinance will have to appear before the magistrate district judge and could face a fine ranging from $750 to $1,000.

Beth Manson, one of the owners of Starlight Drive-in, previously told the Eagle that any ordinance enacted in Center Township would affect all residents, not just the drive-in.

Klopfer said she is cautiously optimistic about the ordinance.

“It really comes down to how effective it is going to be,” she said. “When you consider we're going from no regulation to this regulation, that's an improvement in itself.”

Copies of the ordinance are available on Center Township's website and at the township's office.