City Council heard a presentation at its June 7 meeting from Sarah Hensley, the city’s assistant director of community development.
Two staff recommendations are being examined: amending the unified development code to allow outdoor entertainment and amending the noise ordinance to restrict hours for outdoor music and live bands, according to a June 16 newsletter from the city.
The city plans to add a small stage to Bates Street Park. With this addition to the park, an amendment is needed to allow outdoor entertainment on the stage.
Council is considering reducing the hours for the noise ordinance for businesses in a commercial district with residential uses. Areas would include Old Town Keller, Old Town Center and planned developments such as Center Stage. The reduced hours would affect outdoor music only.
Businesses currently have a curfew for outdoor music set by the noise ordinance of 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. The proposal would limit those hours of operation to 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m.-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, according to discussions at the June 7 council work session.
The second proposal would align the zoning districts' use chart with current outdoor live music practices.
Under the current zoning, outdoor music is not explicitly called out as being allowed in Old Town Keller. Council wants to amend the code to codify the city’s support for outdoor entertainment in Old Town, according to discussions.
The Keller Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to discuss the adjustment to the code to allow outdoor entertainment July 12. City Council is expected to consider both items at its Aug. 2 meeting.
