Abigail Ivy addressed the city council this morning, raising urgent concerns about noise pollution stemming from a commercial sound system at a music venue located at 14919 Southeast Stark Street in Portland. Ivy, who has lived in the area since purchasing her home in December 2019, described her experience of living next to the venue as distressing, particularly due to the excessive noise that disrupts her home life.
In her testimony, Ivy referenced city code Title 18, which aims to minimize citizens' exposure to excessive noise and protect public health and safety. She recounted how the noise from the venue begins around 6 PM and continues until approximately 2 AM, causing her home to shake and her windows to rattle. Despite her attempts to seek help from local authorities, including a call to the non-emergency police line, Ivy reported that officers were unable to assist due to the size of the gathering at the venue.
Ivy's plea highlights a growing concern among residents regarding the impact of commercial noise on their quality of life. The council members were urged to consider the implications of such disturbances on community well-being and to take action to enforce existing noise regulations. The meeting underscored the ongoing tension between commercial interests and residential peace in Southeast Portland, prompting a call for more effective noise control measures.