Downtown Noise Ordinance public hearing

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Downtown Noise Ordinance public hearing

Submitted by emmettoconnell on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 8:25am.

Nancy over at the envirotalk list found a legal ad on the Olympian referring to a possible new downtown noise ordinance. Huh?

What new noise ordinance?

Well, the Olympia Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on improving (I guess) the city's noise ordinance on April 7. So, what this is all about is putting a ceiling on noise in downtown. Apparently there is no maximum allowed noise you can make right now.

From the staff report (btw, I know the staff report says 2007, but it is a mistake. It should be 2008):

The primary difficulty with the statute that is adopted into OMC 18.40.080(B) is that there are no maximum allowable noise levels that apply to our downtown business and waterfront zones. Other jurisdictions within the Puget Sound region facing similar difficulties have successfully adopted commercial maximum allowable noise level standards to address urbanizing areas that integrate growth and residential uses. Generally, the approach has been to simply add a maximum decibel level between 57 dba to 60 dba for commercial zones. A copy of Olympia’s Table N – Permitted Sound Levels in Receiving EDNA Classes along with excerpts from the cities of Seattle, Snohomish and Everett is attached (Attachment # 2).
ince adopting such a new standard requires an amendment to the zoning ordinance, staff requests that the Planning Commission take the next step and schedule an April 7, public hearing to assess the implications of adopting new noise standards that will increase the quality of life and strike a balance between commercial and residences uses.

So, what do you think? Should there be a maximum volume limit downtown?

emmettoconnell's blog
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This is tough.

Submitted by Rob Richards on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 9:20am.

Is this stemming from a particular venue that is loud? Usually these ordinances come from somewhere.

It'll be interesting to hear what residents have to say. If there isn't a large showing of actual downtown residents complaining of noise, then I say if ain't broke don't fix it. The Midnight Sun is a bit loud when they have rock shows, but they're a half block from any apartments and buffered by other buildings so that most of the sound comes out the front and across Columbia.

Another part of me is thinking, "What, are they gonna ban dancing next?"

Dancing?

Submitted by Guglielmo on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 10:15am.

Don't be a slipery slope dope. The Sun needs to shut it's damn door.

I think it is shut most of the time.

Submitted by Rob Richards on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 2:38pm.

It just keeps opening because people leave because it's too loud inside.

It's needed

Submitted by Just another voice on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 9:30am.

As a downtown resident I feel this is much needed. It does not ask bars and clubs not to play music, it asked them to keep doors shut, or move speakers. All in all be a good neighbor and run their show in their building. Also, the new ordinance would say that the noise must be at 57 dBs at the property line of the complaining party. In other words inside the venue would have to be so load it could cause ear damage. This will protect the owners of the clubs and bars as well from frivolous claims.
P.S. there are apartments just next door to the Midnight Sun, right above Mekong Thia.

But I am Just Another Voice

I was hoping

Submitted by paisleyboxers on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 10:12am.

This would be a city wide ordinance against Jam Bands.

Friendblog: None are known to exist since bloggers don't have friends.

The Glamor Ranch

Submitted by Rob Richards on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 2:48pm.

The apartments above Mekong are not actually 'just next door' to The Midnight Sun. There is an alley and three storefronts separating them. I can also say from first hand experience that when there is a show going on at the Sun you can't hear anything from those apartments unless your window is open. There are also only loud shows on weekend nights, when most people are out or still up. The demographics of those apartments are primarily young people who are active socially and not bothered at that time.

Hmmm

Submitted by Just another voice on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 8:29pm.

I live in the apartments above Mekong Thai right now. I have always had problems when the Sun is having a show. Even with my windows closed I can still hear the words of the show going on.
I work on the weekends and early mornings, so 'waiting it out' isn't really an option. This will be especially true when more housing comes downtown and a larger diversity of people will enjoy living downtown as well.
Really this ordinance will just ask that venues keep the doors closed, and they respect their neighbors and the patrons by keeping music at a safe level.

But I am Just Another Voice

ok

Submitted by Rob Richards on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 11:36pm.

The apartment that I have experience with has a window on State, and barely anything can be heard from there during shows.

I agree that venues should respect that people live close by and not be overly loud. I also think that noise is something you have to deal with when living in a city. At least it's music and not gunshots.

I understand that noise is

Submitted by Just another voice on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 11:56pm.

I understand that noise is something you deal with when you live in a city as I have lived in downtown Portland and Atlanta. However, I do not think that I should be able to hear anything loader then 57 dBs at my property. I think we need great night life in downtown. We also need more housing to continue to grow as a city. This ordinance seems to be a good compromise.

p.s. to give The Sun it fair share, they are having a show now and it is a controlled level nothing out of control.

But I am Just Another Voice

The biggest noise nuisance,

Submitted by OlyDowntowner on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 10:30am.

The biggest noise nuisance, or the loudest I guess I should say, is that stupid street cleaner that comes through in the middle of the night. As if it's doing anything except disturbing the rest of the people who live downtown!

I hear him every night on

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 10:34am.

I hear him every night on the West Side through walls, closed doors, and earphones.

If Pro- is the opposite of Con-, does that mean Congress is the opposite of Progress?

My understanding is that, in

Submitted by Meta Hogan on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 10:56am.

My understanding is that, in our provinciality, we have not added this supposed necessary element of downtown code. It's something that many cities do when they "grow up", ie, get big enough to need it. It's part of the drive to make downtown more appealing for residents, so that more downtown housing can be added. Anyone who's concerned should go to the hearing and voice their opinion--the ordinance will probably go ahead, but input could change the final decibel level.

I like the street cleaner sound in the middle of the night

Submitted by Guglielmo on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 11:07am.

Does this mean

Submitted by security_six on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 12:39pm.

no more live fire drills in Percival Landing? :-p

"I think there was something funny in that hippie."--Lrrr ruler of Omicron Persei 8

"Whoa, I feel like I'm flying"-- Lrrr, shortly after eating the hippie.

I thought I had posted about this

Submitted by Katherine on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 12:57pm.

but I can't find it. A month or so ago there was an open house with Code Enforcement and local bars. I think Charlie's was there and Todd from Hannah's/Vault. Not too many people. Code Enforcement went to a workshop in Seattle back in Feb. about putting together a good noise ordinance. Before you all freak out, NO, it was not the City of Seattle who put it on. We all know how dismal they've been with the noise/bar/music issues. That said, complaints are always the basis for ordinances, aren't they? For example, every year the ODA gets a complaint about Music in the Park. From Puget St. I'm not joking.

I've heard some pretty interesting (and unfounded) conspiracy theories about why the city is starting now to look at noise ordinance. As far as I can tell, it is exactly what Meta said- trying to lay the groundwork for more housing downtown. As with any ordinance, the most interesting part will be the attempted enforcement....

The sad thing is...

Submitted by Michael_C on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 2:45pm.

that even if the city adopts some code for noise downtown, getting them to enforce it is another matter entirely.

I know from my own experience of having an ONGOING 19 month long noise violation here at my house - noise coming from my neighbor's heat pump. The City denied there was even a problem for nearly a year.

read about it if you like at www.truth-about-noise.com I had a blog about it a while back too.

The noise code (WAC 173-60) that the City does use for residential noise, it does have Commercial and Industrial components as well. To bad they didn't adopt those long ago.

I think it would be really cool to live downtown, and people of all walks like the idea. But the noise as it is would keep me away.

As far as street sweepers - whats the alternative?

There's a fine line between participation and mockery -Dilbert

Is there an organized group?

Submitted by Michael_C on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 2:50pm.

who brought this to the City? Is it just individuals? Drop me a line, I might like to be a supporter.

There's a fine line between participation and mockery -Dilbert

I don't think any group brought it up...

Submitted by Katherine on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 7:03pm.

The person heading it up @ the city is Ruth Snyder. She's the downtown code enforcement officer and can be reached at 709.2790.

Yay! No more Logging

Submitted by theunabonger on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 8:36am.

Yay! No more Logging Trucks rumbling through Downtown at 6:30 AM? :)

Oh, nvrmnd, I'm sure the City will exempt the log trucks, (WTF are they doing driving through downtown anyway, feh!)

Cosmo

double feh

Submitted by chad360 on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 9:11am.

no text

feh x3

Submitted by Meta Hogan on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 6:24pm.

feh x3

Logging trucks and motorcycles

Submitted by jlaing on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 10:52am.

The two noise polutants I notice most are logging trucks and motorcycles. The motorcycles are especially annoying because the riders purposely rev. their engines before screaming down the street. Isn't there some law about modifying vehecles to be louder? Why aren't the police enforcing that to start with.

I agree also, why do we have logging trucks streaming through downtown? Do the timber companies pay for the damage they cause to the road ways from such heavy use?

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