TV network fights noise equipment

Trinity Broadcasting Network is appealing a Planning Commission ruling that mandates the company to constantly monitor noise around its Costa Mesa building.

In October, the network went to the Planning Commission to fight for the ability to film television programs outdoors 12 times a year.

On the other side of the discussion was Stacy Schofro, a resident whose house abuts the network’s property. Schofro has fought for years to combat what she considers an unacceptable amount of noise made by the network’s daily activities such as gardening and maintenance, and she didn’t want the city to allow the network to film outdoors for fear that it would generate more noise.

Planning Commissioner Jim Righeimer thought both sides could be appeased if Trinity Broadcasting Network were to pay to install equipment to record the noise levels around its facility, and the commission voted 5 to 0 to allow the network to film outdoors as long as it monitored its noise 24 hours a day for two years and submitted quarterly reports to the city.

Network executives, though, argue the requirements are overkill, considering the amount of time spent filming.

“Because we put restrictions on ourselves with regards to the hours we tape, we’d only be taping 48 hours per year,” said Vicki Green, a network spokeswoman.

Twenty-four-hour noise monitoring would be too stringent, but the network would be willing to submit to lesser monitoring, according to the appeal filed with the city.

The outdoor filming, however, is just part of the problem for Schofro.

The bulk of the noise she takes issue with comes from machinery the network uses to trim plants and install and maintain its characteristic strings of white lights. Setting up and taking down filming sets would cause even more noise, Schofro said.

“We’re tired of being drug back there to fight. It’s never-ending,” Schofro said.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at [email protected].