This story was originally published in The News-Journal August 5, 2026

By Catharin Shepard • Editor • A homeowner who lives in a subdivision next to the Shahbain Farms & Event Center told commissioners that noise, traffic and littering at the event center are impacting the lives of residents who live near it.

A speaker who introduced himself as Kevin White addressed the Hoke County Board of Commissioners about the matter during the public input session at the board’s meeting Monday night, August 3, 2026.

“I am here today because my family has spent years living with conditions that no homeowner should be expected to endure, despite repeatedly asking for help,” he said.

He and his family purchased their home on Chestnut Drive expecting a peaceful, rural neighborhood, but instead “have found ourselves living next to a commercial entertainment venue, bringing repeated noise, trespassing, traffic concerns, property damage and other disruptions into our daily lives.”

The noise is the most obvious issue, White went on to say.

“The music, bass and eventgoer noise routinely penetrate the walls of our home. This isn’t simply hearing music outside. It is bass vibrating, people partying, DJ shouting, and we can hear it through our entire house to include our bedrooms, making it impossible to sleep,” he said.

“I have lost count of how many nights I’ve booked my family into a hotel room, just so my wife and children can sleep peacefully. We should never have to leave our home because another property refuses to operate responsibility.”

Additionally, people regularly trespass “at all hours of the day and night” on his property to get to the event center, the speaker continued. The family is often left to clean up flyers, trash, bottles and other litter left behind on their property after events.

“My children should be able to play outside without us worrying about strangers coming through our yard and broken glass left behind,” he said.

White added that development related to the event center has changed the water drainage to the area, resulting in damage to his property.

“We have had to watch our own property suffer while trying to get someone to acknowledge the problem. This has taken a tremendous emotional toll on our family. Our weekends bring anxiety as we watch the parking lot fill up, knowing the events will last well into the morning hours. We constantly check the event schedule instead of looking forward to time at home…Home should be where a family finds peace. Instead, it has become a source of anxiety, frustration and stress.”

The family feels “trapped” financially because the conditions at the center are making it difficult to sell their home.

“No homeowner should have to watch their property’s value and marketability be impacted by an ongoing issue they have repeatedly asked the county to address,” White said. He went on to say that he had reached out to the sheriff’s office and county staff, and gotten a “lack of accountability,” even though he has documentation of the issues including photos, videos, text message threads and more. He also spoke directly with representatives of the event center.

“Despite multiple documented discussions and repeated assurances that the issues would be address, the issues continue,” the homeowner said.

When the speaker’s three minutes ran out, Commissioner Tony Hunt asked the board to consider allowing him more time to continue speaking. The board approved the proposal, and White offered further comments.

The lack of action “has sent a message that compliance is optional and that the neighboring residences are expected to tolerate the disruptions. A few weeks ago, I submitted a formal complaint outlining these issues. Despite the seriousness of the concerns and the amount of supporting documentation, I have yet to receive a response or a resolution.”

“That lack of communication has only reinforced the feeling that the residents living next to the event center are being ignored. This is not about one loud party or one bad weekend. This is about years of repeated disturbances, repeated complaints and repeated failures to correct the problem,” White said. “I’m only asking for the same rights every homeowner in Hoke County should have…I respectfully am asking the board to investigate these ongoing issues, review the county’s handling of repeated complaints, ensure that the applicable ordinances are enforced, and take whatever action necessary so that no other family has to endure what ours has experienced.”

After the speaker concluded his remarks, Hunt asked the speaker to confirm his address. He did so. Then, Commission Chairman Harry Southerland asked White where he had submitted the complaint. White said he sent it through the county’s website, in addition to multiple emails to the zoning and planning department, as well as talking with other people with the county.

Other speakers

Several other people addressed commissioners during the public input session.

Resident Caroline Nicholl of Poole Road asked about the speed limit on the road and raised safety concerns. She said she has lived in the area for 19 years and the speed limit is not marked, with a lot of drivers speeding through.

“We have people speeding at unbelievable rate of speed. As a matter of fact, last month, Poole Road was one of the roads that was involved with one of the two children that were hit by vehicles,” she said.

She said the road is only 1.4 miles long, and it dead-ends at Fort Bragg.

“Where are they going to go at 55 miles an hour?” she asked.

Nicholl said she did not think the dead-end road should have such a high speed limit.

Commission Chairman James Leach asked County Attorney Grady Hunt if he could draft a letter of resolution to NCDOT. Hunt said he could, and could check with the agency to make certain what the speed limit is there.

Resident Kathy Leandro approached the commissioners with an update on the county animal shelter expansion. After the last meeting, the public relations representative for J&K General Contractors, which donated for the construction project, reached out to speak with her, Leandro said.

“He took me for coffee…it was a very nice meeting. We went to the animal shelter and met with Kristi, and walked all around. I was pleased that we’re finally getting some movement going and getting things done,” she said.

Leandro also said she was pleased that the county chose Kristi Pylant as the new animal control director, and had seen that many people in the county were in support of her having the position. She thanked the commissioners and J&K General Contractors for getting work done on the project, and said she hopes it continues.

“Once it’s finished, I’m going to leave you alone, believe it or not,” Leandro said.