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SRIA considers new noise ordinance after complaints from condo residents
"I never thought when I bought it that I was buying a piece of trash," Saint Alban said last week. "It's almost like living in a mobile home when you can't sleep at night. "I might as well move to Molino." Saint Alban's comments were directed to members of the Santa Rosa Island Authority Operations Committee, which is grappling with numerous complaints about excessive noise in the business core of Pensacola Beach. Anumber of South Habour condo residents say live, late-night music from the nearby Sandshaker Lounge and the Boardwalk interrupts their sleep and standard of life. Residents say noise especially is a nuisance during weekends, and some complain that the Escambia County Sheriff's Department does not enforce a decibel-based noise ordinance. Saint Alban spoke to a meeting of the SRIA Operations Committee on May 21. "My neighbors know how difficult it is to sleep here sometime and have to get up the next day and go to work," she said. "It's not possible. "I run my washer and dryer on Friday and Saturday nights. I literally have to do a lot of laundry to drown out the annoying noise from the outside." In response to complaints several months ago, the SRIA formed a committee to monitor noise levels at various nightclubs including the Sandshaker, Capt'n Fun and Bamboo Willie's. A comprehensive review was made during Mardi Gras weekend. "The issue was almost exclusively South Habour vs. Sandshaker," said Jeff Elbert, President of the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce and noise committee chairman. "I'm not a sound engineer, but the problem at South Habour is acoustical in nature. The sound was bouncing all over the place. You would go up one side of the floor, and it would sound loud. In the hall, it would be quiet. "Noise is actually much worse at the Comfort Inn than anywhere else. Yet the (decibel) readings were about the same. I would say that during Mardi Gras weekend, the Sandshaker did raise the decibels quite a bit. My hope is that when they are done with their remodeling project, all of this is for naught. Hopefully, the cart has gotten ahead of the horse." Beverly Boswell, who co-owns the Sandshaker with Buddy Campbell, said the Sandshaker is undergoing a $250,000 renovation that will reduce noise created by live entertainment. "We've already voluntarily agreed to shut down our bands at 12:30 a.m.," Boswell said. "We lose customers when we do that. Sometimes the bands might play past that time a little bit. I'm sorry the core area might get a little noisy. "The biggest problem, the current ordinance is old. We have to think about changing times and what's going to help us out here on the beach. We're going to make improvements and do what we need to do." Elwyn Guernsey of the SRIA board said he respected the concerns of residents. "But at the same time, I think when you choose to live in a core area, you'd have to recognize that there is going to be more noise, more traffic, more activity. That's just the nature of the beast," he said. "We should not punish the businesses because of it. Maybe that wasn't the best place to build a condo." The Operations Committee recommended removing the current decibel meter standard for noise levels and establishing a time limit for all businesses on Pensacola Beach for entertainment and music. "Suggested cut-off times would be midnight between Sunday and Wednesday, and 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday," Authority executive director W.A. "Buck" Lee said. He added that early week times might be extended with a letter of approval from the SRIA. The Authority is scheduled to vote on the Operations Committee's recommendation during its June 10 meeting. That recommendation will be sent to the Escambia County Board of Commissioners, which in turn likely will hold public hearings before officially deciding the matter. Nightclub owners fear time constraints will hurt their business. "Please don't limit us from making a living out here," pleaded June Guerra, owner of Capt'n Fun. "We are surviving out here, but we are not healthy. "Help us, don't limit us." |
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