The ordinance was approved unanimously by council following concerns with the new wording addressed by representatives of The Food Hall Company, which manages the Legacy Hall facility at Legacy West, as well as counterarguments from residents of the Windrose Towers at Legacy West.
The new ordinance, in part, requires commercial businesses such as music venues to keep noise to 70 decibels from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and further reduces the maximum noise level to 60 decibels from 10:01 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. If a noise complaint is filed, the decibel measurement will be taken from the offended party’s premises.
Dale Brock, the director of entertainment for The Food Hall Company, said the company is doing everything it can to comply with the ordinances, including removing speakers, encasing drum sets in plexiglass shields and concluding concerts at 10 p.m.
Brock said the measures that have already been put in place are negatively affecting the sound quality in various parts of the Legacy Hall venue. Residents in Windrose Tower, however, said they are still hearing unwanted noise due to an unencumbered straight line from the stage to their living areas.
Multiple council members expressed sympathy with The Food Hall Company’s concerns but also stated it will still be the company’s responsibility to ensure reasonable noise abatement procedures are followed for residents in the tower.
According to the language of the new noise ordinance, noise permit renewals will be issued once every three years after a place of business proves it has initially complied with the ordinance’s standards.
