The Covered Bridge Property Owners Association and the Hill Country Estates Homeowners Association will drop their appeals and lawsuit against the city of Austin upon LifeAustin’s installation of sound reduction measures including sound barriers east and west of the amphitheater structure, according to Covered Bridge POA President Mike Kirk. The Memorandum of Settlement agreement was executed in July.
“There is a small light at the end of the tunnel,” Kirk said.
The LifeAustin Amphitheatre has been the subject of controversy for years because of the amplified sound from worship services held on the site. Some residents gave testimony to the city's Board of Adjustment in 2015 that the amphitheater should be allowed to operate, while others said noise from its worship concerts is a nuisance.
The Covered Bridge Property Owners Association provided its members with an update on the LifeAustin Amphitheatre this week.[/caption]Construction of the mitigation structures is expected to take about six months, according to a statement Kirk posted to the POA website and sent out to area residents this week.
The church must also commit to not exceeding 95 decibels at the front-of-house sound control booth of the amphitheater, as well as commit to redirecting speaker arrays so that sound is directed at the audience rather than the open space at the back of the amphitheater.
“They have promised to use the best sound-deadening materials possible. We get an opportunity to review that to make sure that they are,” Kirk said, noting the church has to submit its plans to neighbors before construction. “They’re trying to deaden the sound as much as possible. The proof is going to be at the end of the day, whether they are going to be able to accomplish that.”
The neighbors will be able to return to mediation if they feel the plans do not meet the standards outlined in the contract.
The LifeAustin Amphitheater is located off Hwy. 71.[/caption]The church has been talking with leaders from the two groups since December 2015 to come up with a solution to address some neighbors’ concerns about amplified sound, Business and Legacy Pastor John Capezzuti said in an email.
“We are confident this agreement will be of benefit to all parties. It required a lot of hard work from all involved, and we’re pleased to be able to report a settlement,” Capezzuti said.
The city adjustments board agreed to postpone its hearing of neighbors’ appeals until August 2017. If the church and neighbors cannot reach an agreement on the design and materials for the projects, then either party can terminate the agreement, according to the Covered Bridge POA.
Additional reporting by Olivia Lueckemeyer
