Draper residents upset over neighbor's movie-making


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A filmmaker in Draper is under pressure from neighbors to stop shooting motocross movies in his backyard. The Draper City Council is considering tonight whether to let him continue the shoots.

Some Draper residents are sick of the noise coming from their neighbor's yard. Tauna Perry said, "The noise factor and the dust have been a real nightmare for us."

Draper residents upset over neighbor's movie-making

Perry lives next door to a man who makes motocross movies right in his Draper backyard. The filmmaker bought land next to his home and converted it into a dirt track with ramps, jumps and roof drops.

"We started to research and found out there is an ordinance that he is violating," Perry said.

Draper residents upset over neighbor's movie-making

That Health Department ordinance states that you cannot operate any off-road vehicles:

  • within 800 feet of a dwelling,
  • within a noise-sensitive area,
  • when it causes a noise disturbance,
  • or between the hours of 10 at night and 7 in the morning.

But the filmmaker, Gregg Godfrey, says those rules don't apply since he got a temporary permit from the city. "It's our land, and everybody keeps trying to dictate to me what I can and cannot do," he said.

Godfrey says he's acknowledged early complaints and now tapes during the day and waters to keep the dirt down. "We've by no means been perfect. We made dust. We've done things. But we've adjusted," he said.

And while some neighbors don't appreciate all the dust and noise created when he films, Draper City Council hasn't done anything about it just yet. One reason for their inaction up to now is because of the permit they approved.

Apparently, Draper City Council wasn't aware of the new health ordinance when they signed on. But still, the police chief says he doesn't see the operation as problematic.

Mac Connole, Draper's Police Chief, said, "When they did a demonstration, there was no dust or noise that violates any ordinance in Draper. So I didn't think there was a problem."

Neither do several other neighbors

Lori Vawdrey said, "If it was happening all the time, I could see how it could be a problem. But it's so few, and I think it's a great thing, and I'm all for it."

Now Draper is hoping there's a middle ground everyone can settle on. Godfrey says he only has six more hours of filming to complete the project. He hopes the council will allow him to finish.

E-mail: ngonzales @ksl.com

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