posted 01-30-2018 11:41 AM                       

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But that summer tradition of outdoor movie viewing may be endangered by a conflict over the volume of the shows.

"Apparently they think it's too loud," Atkins said.

"They" are some of the residents in the surrounding neighborhoods, who have complained about noise coming from the drive-in. Once this past summer, Christiansburg Police Chief Mark Sisson went out to the local movie destination to impose an appropriate volume level.

The noise problems go back to the spring.

Before the start of its viewing season in April, the Starlite's operators had grown frustrated with the expense of replacing the traditional car-mounted speakers offered at each parking space. Atkins said patrons would often drive off with the speakers still attached to their car windows, tearing them from the poles to which they were wired. Other times, speakers were driven over or stolen, he said. The losses amounted to hundreds of dollars.

Starlite patrons can tune in to the movie soundtracks on their vehicle radios. But Atkins said some customers fear leaving on their radios will run down their vehicle batteries. To provide the necessary sound, the theater replaced its old speakers with a six-speaker sound system sitting atop the building that houses the projection booth and snack bar.

Patrons like the volume set at level seven, according to the drive-in. But some neighbors found it too loud. Dropping the level to five can make hearing movie dialogue challenging, and owner Peggy Beasley said doing so has cost her some business this year.

"This was a bad season … I didn't make any money," Beasley said. She added that whatever profits she makes during drive-in season must support her through the off-season. "People who had been here couldn't come back because they couldn't hear the movie."

After a few months of complaints, Sisson visited the grounds one night in August and spent three hours adjusting the sound levels and evaluating their impact on surrounding neighborhoods, Christiansburg spokeswoman Melissa Powell wrote in an email.

"The owners agreed to show the first movie at 5.0 volume, which was reduced from their normal level of 5.5," Powell wrote. "They also agreed to show the second movie at 4.0 volume, which [the] chief felt was within the town's current ordinance."

A petition on change.org addressed to town Mayor Mike Barber is now circulating and asking officials to revisit the volume issue. The petition, which had garnered 1,177 signatures by Thursday afternoon, argues the currently levels have frustrated regular customers.

One signer, Tim Hall of Christiansburg, wrote on the site: "Shouldn't the town's goal be to help local businesses, not make it harder for them to survive?"

Mary Arnold of Christiansburg wrote: "Sound levels at the high school football games are higher than at the Starlite. This business has thrived longer than most local businesses. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face! Support this family friendly business!"

But officials disagree.

"The volume levels have to comply with town ordinance, and at the higher level, they were not in compliance," Powell said. "It would take an amendment to the town ordinance to change that."

The petition calls for supporters to appear at an Oct. 25 town council meeting to express their concerns. Beasley and Atkins point to a list of 16 exemptions from the noise ordinance allowed by the town. They argue their business also should get a pass.

Beasley and Atkins more specifically pointed to this exemption: "Sounds generated in business, industrial and mixed-use zoning districts that are necessary and incidental to the uses permitted therein."

Barber said that after consulting with the town attorney, he believes the Startlite does not fit that exemption.

Barber said he has himself directly responded to the numerous Facebook comments and questions on the matter, repeatedly explaining the restrictions of the noise ordinance. The town is not trying to put the Starlite out of business, but it also needs to address citizen concerns, the mayor said

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posted 01-30-2018 03:25 PM                       

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Starlite patrons can tune in to the movie soundtracks on their vehicle radios. But Atkins said some customers fear leaving on their radios will run down their vehicle batteries.

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