When it comes to configuring the best practices for both commercial and residential lighting and noise policies in the city of Bellaire, Mayor Andrew Friedberg posed this question at the March 20 City Council meeting: “What are we trying to solve?”

“We’re not trying to regulate people’s freedoms, but we are trying to protect neighbors from externalities that is a shared environment,” Friedberg said.

Monday was the first workshop, or public discussion, since the city’s Planning and Zoning Committee members were tasked by council May 2022 to research and present recommendations on how Bellaire conducts its noise and lighting policies compared to neighboring cities.

What resulted was a 222-page document from the committee that considered noise and lighting ordinances from cities such as West University Place, Houston, Katy and Jersey Village as well as cities further away such as Plano. From that document, city staff and leaders will work together to draft the new laws that can be enforced upon all Bellaire residents and businesses.

Development Services Director Travis Tanner first presented his staff’s combined noise and lighting ordinance draft during a Feb. 9 City Council meeting and on March 20, City Council leaders debated for more than two hours on just how intricate the language on the ordinance must be in order for it to be the finalized.

Whether it was how late can residents have their lights on, to how bright should lights be in one’s backyard or how loud can a generator be, the list on potential scenarios was extensive. More discussions, or workshops, will be planned before any notion of putting the completed ordinance draft on council’s agenda, Friedberg said.

A public hearing must take place before that can occur, according to council leaders and staff members. Residents are invited to share public comments on the matter by filling out an electronic form on the city's website.

The next workshop that would discuss noise in the city of Bellaire could take place in April, City Manager Sharon Citino said.

“I would say we're keeping an eye on keeping a running list of the things that we've discussed and then I have several notes on the lighting ordinance. We’ll certainly take this back under consideration,” Citino said.