"We had been getting a lot of complaints," council Vice President Marilyn Corey said.

But Corey and other council members were surprised at the flood of objections they have been receiving from all-terrain vehicles owners upset that the proposed ordinance would prohibit the use of all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes within 300 feet of a private residence.

The ordinance also would restrict recreational use of the vehicles between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Use of such vehicles to plow snow or cut grass would be excluded from the regulations.

"We just want to regulate use of such vehicles," said borough Manager Ambrose Rocca.

A vote on the matter is scheduled for the council’s April 16 meeting. Corey, however, said that vote might be delayed.

About 30 owners of off-road vehicles who attended a council meeting Wednesday said their rights are being infringed upon. Most of them said they are using the vehicles on their own property and that the ordinance could limit their right to ride on their own property if it is within 300 feet of their homes.

"The government gets one complaint, and they think that everyone with an ATV is causing problems," said Evan Lavsa, a 16-year-old junior at North Allegheny High School.

Lavsa, who rides a Suzuki RM125 dirt bike, attended the meeting with three fellow North Allegheny students who also ride the bikes.

In the year or so that he has had his bike, Lavsa said only one neighbor has complained to him about noise.

"I was able to work that out with that neighbor," Lavsa said. "My bike is really no louder than a lawn mower."

If the use off-road vehicles is restricted in Franklin Park, Lavsa and his friends will have to ride at the Hopp’s Switchback Raceway in Butler.

"It is a great place to ride, but it is 45 minutes away," Lavsa said.

Lavsa is young. But many adults are equally upset with the proposed ordinance.

"They should not be in a position to tell people what to do," said John Ludwig, a resident who also owns an off-road vehicle.

Ludwig lives along Reis Run Road in a part of Franklin Park where lots around many homes are between 5 and 10 acres.

Franklin Park is not the first community to consider regulating off-road vehicles, said Tom Lindsay, the public information director for the All Terrain Vehicle Association in Columbus, Ohio, which has 270,000 members in the United States.

"We understand that people have a right to live without intrusive noise, whether that means an ATV, a garbage truck coming by at 3 a.m. or loud car stereos," Lindsay said.

But, when there are disputes in a community, they are best resolved by cooperation.

"It always works out best when ATV people work with the community," he said.