How loud is too loud?
SRIA explores a compromise on decibel levels for nightclubs, core residents
BY LISA NEWELL Gulf Breeze News lisa@gulfbreezenews.com

Lisa Newell/Gulf Breeze News Core area nightclubs such as the Sandshaker offer live entertainment that residents of South Harbor is keeping them awake at night.

Jeff Marker says his investment in a South Harbor condominium is being threatened by the inability to fall asleep.

Speaking on behalf of the South Harbor association, Marker says he understands that being in the core area, there will be some level of noise and activity.

However, he says on a normal night, property owners get "shook out of their beds" by music from the Sandshaker, Bamboo Willie's, Capt'n Fun, Flounder's and The Dock, among others.

"I defy anyone to be able to sleep," Marker told the Santa Rosa Island Authority at the January board meeting.

Marker says he asked the contractor to reinforce his walls with extra insulation when making hurricane repairs, but "it made no difference."

"I enjoy the livety, but be more reasonable," Marker asked. "We don't have to have speakers pointed toward our building."

Meanwhile, Sandshaker owner Beverly Boswell says the nightclub is trying to be a good neighbor, but needs music to attract and keep patrons.

"We do everything we can do to help the situation, except closing," Boswell said, adding that the club loses patrons once the music stops. "The people leave," she said. "If we can't have entertainment, we will cease to exist."

Attorney for the Sandshaker, John Asmar, offered a solution that would establish a decibel level for the residential areas of Pensacola Beach, and an overlay district that includes the core area, where most of the nightclubs are located.

Fred Simmons, owner of several beach businesses, including the Paradise Bar & Grill, said there's a simple solution: earplugs.

Simmons jokingly held up a bag of earplugs, saying they should be handed out to visitors at the toll booth.

"In all seriousness, I don't want anybody disturbed," but added, "People come here for the music and to have fun and to go a little crazy."

The Sandshaker predates the construction of South Harbor condominiums, but didn't begin offering a steady diet of live music on week nights until recently.

Jeff Elbert, president of the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, was part of a committee that studied the noise problems, meeting with people on all sides of the issue.

He said the solution is to improve the acoustical nature of the sound, positioning speakers away from residential areas and installing sound barriers to keep the notes from echoing off the parking lot, buildings and water.

The SRIA will revisit the issue at the Feb. 13 regular board meeting, at 5 p.m. at the SRIA building, One Via de Luna.