SIDE STREETS: Neighbors to chain saw artist: Buzz off!

MANITOU SPRINGS — This sounds like an easy one: a fellow ran his chain saws seven days a week, left a flashing neon sign on 24-7 and had people stopping by day and night. Who would want to live near THAT?

Remember, however, this is Manitou where anything goes, right? Hippy Mayberry. Home of Wiccans, drum circles, artsy fartsy people who hurl fruitcakes and race coffins for fun.

Chain saw artists are a tradition along Manitou Avenue.

Not anymore. Bill Fee says his Nature of Things Chain Saw Art gallery no longer is welcome.

Guess Manitou finally is becoming the new Aspen.

Seems some neighbors, longtimers and newcomers, are lobbying the city to make Fee muffle his saws.

“We want to be able to go outside, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, without being routinely assaulted by the incessant whine and buzz of a chain saw and other noisy power tools,” said Tom Lundgren, whose house overlooks Fee’s shop on a hillside 500 feet away.

Fee said Lundgren is responsible for most of the incessant whining and buzzing.

Fee notes his shop is not in a neighborhood; it’s along the busy main drag in a commercial district that includes a stores, restaurants and other businesses.

And it’s not a new use. He’s been carving bears from stumps there since 1995. (See photos and a video on my blog.)

Fee said it doesn't even matter the ambient traffic noise is louder than his saws. Neighbors are squawking, he said, and his business permit is in jeopardy unless he complies with city orders to quiet his saws by Feb. 28. He’s trying but he said the neighbors and city are unreasonable.

“I restrict my hours,” he said. “I don’t carve on weekends or holidays. I only carve from 10 to 5 on weekdays. I only run one saw at a time.

“I’ve compromised and compromised. But it’s never enough.”

Lundgren, who has lived in his home since 1985, is not sympathetic and said anything exceeding the 55 decibel “nuisance” level set by the city is too much. He doesn’t care whether it’s noon or midnight.

“He has an open-air manufacturing  process there,” he said, noting Fee has several carving apprentices who keep the saws running.

The noise echoes up the hill, he said, ruining peaceful enjoyment of his yard and home.

“The area is zoned for commercial, not heavy industry,” Lundgren said. “He creates a public nuisance very time he runs that chain saw.”

Lundgren has rallied many neighbors to join his complaint. But many say they are satisfied with the changes Fee has made to his operation and want the protests to stop.

La Rita Mason owns a townhome across the road in the new Fountain Creek Villas. She said Fee’s evening and weekend sawing was annoying. But she said she no longer finds it offensive:

“I’m definitely supportive of him being able to continue his livelihood with the current restrictions.”

Ditto for neighbor Lucy Mills, who said she never noticed the saws until Lundgren raised the issue.

“The motorcycles tearing up and down the street are much worse,” Mills said. “And the neon sign glaring all night was much more obnoxious.”

Ken Healey and Janice Montoya, owners of Briarhurst Manor, praised Fee for trying to appease neighbors.

Fee said he has muffled all he can. And he must carve - put on a show - to attract customers.

 “Without being able to carve here,” Fee said, “I’ll go out of business.”

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Side Streets Bill Vogrin