'Things have gotten out of control'

We moved to Warwick to raise our children in a more intimate community, raise our horses and enjoy Warwick’s serenity and beauty. We love the charm of Warwick, the agricultural experience, shops, history and sense of community. We live in a wonderful neighborhood where you can see your neighbors, still have adequate land for livestock and have some peace and tranquility. Our neighbors respect the tranquility of the area and each other and are involved in our community.
We also respect and welcome the seasonal tourists and their interest in our agriculture. We are happy our local farms’ agritourism businesses are doing well.
Agritourism (defined by Merriam-Webster) is the practice of touring agricultural areas to see farms and often participate in farm activities. I believe that was the original vision for many of our farms and wineries. However, things have gotten out of control.
Our concern is the volume of noise. We didn’t move to the Warwick to feel like our backyard was hosting a concert or a wedding. Sound reverberates throughout our area. We enjoy sitting outside and the beautiful surroundings of the area we moved to. Now we are faced with the prospect of staying indoors because of the noise.
There is a new local law to amend the Town of Warwick agritourism zoning. It will affect the peace and tranquility of residents forever. This amendment includes amplified sound from 12-9 p.m., the number of festivals, attendees, etc.
You might think this won’t happen in your backyard, but it is happening throughout Warwick, very quietly and rapidly. If you live in an area already affected by loud noise, or just want to protect our wonderful town, now is the time to voice your opposition to these revisions. We need these laws to protect the Warwick we love, not to promote loud bands and carnivals. While we want growth in agritourism, let’s not forget the reason we live in Warwick - the charm, agriculture, architecture, history, community and solitude.
Please attend the public hearing and voice your concerns on Thursday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m., at Warwick Town Hall. The proposed zoning revisions are available on the townofwarwick.org home page on the right side IMPORTANT NOTICES under “Local Law amending Chapter 164....”
Your attendance is critical.
Lori Scaffidi
Warwick