Nightlife operators tell Raleigh council decibel limits threaten livelihoods in Glenwood South

Dozens of hospitality managers, employees and nightlife workers told the Raleigh City Council at a public hearing that proposed decibel-based limits for amplified sound would be unworkable in the Glenwood South Entertainment District and could jeopardize livelihoods.

The speakers said the district’s Friday–Saturday peak hours — repeatedly described in testimony as roughly 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. — produce crowd-driven sound levels that the proposed numeric thresholds would put in near-constant violation. John Zimmerman, operating partner at the Village on Glenwood, criticized recent enforcement and the switch back to a decibel system: “That’s not enforcement, that’s selective enforcement,” he said, recounting multiple citations and pending cases he described as unevenly applied.

Advocates for businesses said the hospitality economy relies on a narrow revenue window. Kenneth Locklear, general manager of a nightclub on Glenwood South, testified that “we generate close to 90% of our income in a single narrow window, Friday and Saturday nights between 10PM and 2AM.” Brian Kite, who described more than 15 years working in the district, emphasized the scale of weekend crowds: “On any given weekend, there are up to 10,000 people on those streets between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. That’s the center of Raleigh’s nightlife,” he said.

Speakers urged the council to delay adoption and to observe midnight activity in the district before finalizing limits. Several managers and owners said they already use digital limiters, directional speakers and other mitigation measures and asked for stable, enforceable rules and consistent training for staff who will use sound meters. Larry Miller, a neighborhood resident who supports an objective standard, argued that the ordinance must specify how decibels are measured, noting the consultant used an LEQ (equivalent continuous level) averaged over 15 seconds; without that reference, Miller warned, “you are going to have spikes that will cause an infraction.”

A number of speakers said prior changes and inconsistent enforcement have created uncertainty. Alexis Cambarian, general manager of Westwood and event coordinator for Oak City Events, told the council the annual oscillation in rules has been “confusing and quite exhausting” for workers and managers who depend on the late-night economy to support families. Multiple speakers asked the council to bring venue operators, residents and the city’s hospitality staff back to the table to find a workable, enforceable standard.

The hearing produced no formal council action; speakers were limited to two minutes and roughly 28 people had signed up to speak, according to the clerk’s office.

Less-critical details: several speakers supported an objective, professionally measured standard and non‑sworn, trained monitors rather than routine police responses; others asked that Glenwood South retain a different standard than quieter residential areas because it is a hospitality district. Testimony emphasized the economic ripple effects beyond bars to vendors, beverage reps and staff who rely on weekend revenue. The council concluded the public hearing and scheduled continuation of public comment later in the evening.