Houlden Farm hopes homemade sound barrier can keep weekend music alive
The owners of Houlden Farm plan to construct a sound barrier to dampen noise complaints from neighbors who support the agri-business but hate the idea of another summer of live music at the farm’s Sunflower Shanty.
Owner Trevor Houlden told the Select Board Tuesday that he experimented with sound dampening methods that he believes will solve the problem — but he asked for time to complete the structure, given the increased cost of help, materials, and opening costs of the season. He also noted that switching to acoustic music only on Sundays was less of a draw for customers.
“Our plan is to build a temporary three-sided structure, lined on the interior walls and roof with sound dampening blankets to reduce the sound levels,” Houlen said. “The temporary structure will be facing in the northeast direction into open fields, avoiding other buildings and structures that may cause the music to travel in different directions.”
The family-owned farm on Old Westboro Road is now surrounded by houses. Neighbors at first supported their effort to add the Sunflower Shanty, a beer garden offering locally crafted beverages, food, and weekend live music but soon tired of the endless music on weekends.
“We live across the street. I don’t feel we have to listen to that,” neighbor Bill Rychlik said, noting that the neighbors aren’t being included in the board’s discussion about the noise issue. “It’s not fair.”
Two residents from Morgan Drive expressed their love of the farm and their dislike of the music.
“We have to keep the noise down,” one man said, “It bothers us and we’re a great distance from the farm.”
The other expressed his dislike of AC/DC and said the music every weekend is taking its toll.
“I’ve been living in this town for 16 years and I’m thinking about selling my house,” he said.
But another neighbor, who said he lives behind the farm, said he loves the addition of music, saying he doesn’t have to pay for the entertainment and that it’s better than the family selling off the land for development, as has happened with other Grafton farms.
The Select Board agreed to let the music continue and adjusted the hours to Fridays 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Saturdays 5:30-7:30 p.m.; and Sundays 1:30-4:30 p.m.
The farm owners will be asked to return before the board in July, or sooner if the sound barrier is completed early.
“We have to compromise here,” Select Board member Ray Mead said. “We have to listen to the residents and we have to listen to you.”
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