bill to limit athletic field use

Once again, how dare the active/athletic people intrude on the peace and quiet of the fat arses who don't want to get off their couch and can't be disturbed by the horrible fingernails-on-chalkboard sound of children playing.

I can understand the prior to 8... but after 6?  Gimme a break... maybe after 9 pm... or  8ish... but 6?  And not at all on Sunday?  I'll even spot you nothing prior to 1, but anything else is insane.  Of course this bill may be all lip service because at least around here I don't see very many (if any) houses w/in 65 yards of athletic fields.

bts

Unfortunately in my area, and most all of metro-DC for that matter, you can't throw a stone anymore without hitting a house anymore.  Maybe I should call Chuck Norris...  hmmm...

Perhaps the state can provide tv's and video games to the kids.  We cant have all that running around, trying to have fun and learn a healthy life style.  Is this near a park?  A league I run has had issues with field time as the homeowners didnt seem to think there would ever be noise living next to a park with ball diamonds.  Get a clue folks.  If a homeowner wants peace and quiet before 8pm, get out to the country or dont live next to a freakin park!

exactly.  the problem I see with it is that these homes are being built around already existing fields, and not the other way around.  I realize that 65 yards isn't very much distance, but I know of several fields in the area (lighted fields where night time rec league games are held) that have homes within 65 yards. 

I sympathize with the home owners... but yeah, they knew what they were getting into when they moved their (and I agree, the houses spring up next to the parks, not the other way around).  8 or 9 sure but other than that tough... maybe they should move next to a train track or an airport...

bts

Scott,

I got the email too.  All the local kids leagues are having the parents respond to this issue.  From the local Herndon paper all the politicians are getting inudated with email.   What they said in the article that the individual who introduced the bill was pressured by a big contributer who lived next to a field.  Hopefully common sense will prevail but I'm not sure it will.

Ernie

This is one of the reasons I moved out of NoVa (that, and that teency divorce thing).  But this kind of crap drives me nuts.  Most of the fields (in Fairfax County anyway) are county fields.  The people using the fields pay the same county taxes.  Property taxes do not give you the right to restrict the use of county facilities.  If noise is the issue, there are noise ordinanaces already in place.  Restricting the use of recreational facilities for their intended purpose is just plain stupid.

an update following an email sent to a state senator.  here is the response.

Thank you very much for your letter regarding HB 1368- The Home Serenity and Tranquility Act. This bill was introduced by Delegate Hull and prohibits athletic field use before 8 a.m., after 6 p.m. and on Sundays, without unanimous written consent from surrounding homeowners.

You will be happy to know that this bill is expected to be killed by the House Committee for Courts of Justice by Monday, as a result of overwhelming opposition. I agree that the provisions of HB 1368 are completely unacceptable. We live in an age where productive youth activities are necessary to curb problems such as childhood obesity and gang violence. The consequence of passing legislation that threatens the very existence of youth sports would be incredibly damaging to the Commonwealth.

I appreciate your having taken the time to write. If I can be of assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

There's a subdivision that went up on the side of the train tracks.  The residents are lobbying the County Commission to get the trains to be restricted to only driving by on certain times.......   gee.

Well, if the houses and homeowners were there first this might be a valid point.  If the athletic fields were there and the homes came second then the numbnut homeowners should have expected noise from an athletic field.  And then would qualify for the "JUST SHUT UP" award.

We live across the street from a LARGE soccer field complex and it's nice in the summer to have the back door open and listen to the cheering or sit on the back deck and watch

 But...but...they bought houses near athletic fields. So...what were they expecting?

I mean, that's like buying a house on the beach but then complaining how all the sand gets everywhere.

Exactly.

The taxes of the people using that facility are likely funding its upkeep as park and rec budgets draw much of their funding from taxes.  If the home owner wants to buy the land from the city or county or whoever, and pay for mowing the grass, etc, etc, have at it.  There are issues here, but there is also the need for people to reach reasonable compromises.  As stated by others, 6pm as a cut off is beyond irrational.  It is a different issue if a field is put in after the fact but use some common sense if you are moving next to something that has been around long before your time (playgrounds, airports, freeways, heavy bar areas).  The market has likely given you a discount in purchasing such a property in the first place.  There is a reason for that (heck, some might even pay a premium for a park or something like that in their backyard).

"You moved the headstones buy you didnt move the GD bodies, did you?"- Name the movie, anyone?.  Dont know why this came up, but was just picturing a ridiculous scenario a la this movie and the homeowner complaining about legislation limiting hauntings to a certain time of day.  I am a dork.

Oh, oh, I know that one...

bts

Edit- One of my new favorites: "Yeah, well if you'd have told me that there was going to be a 300 pound mirror with a pissed off demon inside it falling from a window, I would've moved it further, John."

(Poltergeist.jpg)

Constantine?