City to consider noise ordinance

The Port Aransas City Council once again is scheduled to take up the matter of a revised noise ordinance at a meeting today, Thursday, May 21.

The meeting will be at 5 p.m. at council chambers at city hall, 710 W. Ave. A.

The council will consider a second reading of the ordinance. It takes three readings to become law.

The council delayed a second reading at an April 27 special meeting to give people concerned about the matter more time to respond to what had become a controversial issue.

While several residents upset about loud music late at night have spoken out in favor of a revised ordinance that could keep their neighborhoods quieter, some nightclub owners have said the proposed changes could hurt business and tourism in a town where live music is a visitor attraction.

The current ordinance says music should not be louder than 85 decibels from midnight to 7 a.m. in areas zoned for business - generally along Alister Street, Cotter Avenue, Cut-off Road and the flats, said David Parsons, the city's planning and projects manager. The ordinance also says decibel levels can't be higher than 85 from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. throughout the rest of town, he said.

The revised ordinance, which passed unanimously on first reading April 16, says decibel levels should not climb higher than 85 from 8 a.m. to midnight; that levels not exceed 65 from midnight to 2 a.m.; and that police may use discretion on what is too loud from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. The rules would be the same for all parts of town, Parsons said.

The revised ordinance also moves the location where police take decibel readings. Right now, police stand 100 feet from offending property. The revised ordinance will require officers to take the reading while standing on the property of the complaining party, at the closest point to the property from which the music is coming.

Also at the meeting, the council is scheduled for a third and final reading of an ordinance on outdoor lighting. The new ordinance is designed to keep security lighting from glaring on neighbors' property.