Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Noise And Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves noise variances for University of St. Thomas events after neighborhood objections
Summary
Council granted sound variances for three University of St. Thomas events despite testimony from neighborhood advocates who said the amplified sound would harm nearby residences.
The St. Paul City Council approved three sound-variance requests permitting amplified live sound at University of St. Thomas Stadium over three days in late August, after a neighborhood group objected during the public hearing.
Daniel Kennedy, speaking for Advocates for Responsible Development and a neighborhood group opposing the variances, told the council the stadium sits “directly across the street from residences” and that a three-day consecutive run of amplified music would be disruptive to adjacent houses. Kennedy argued that comparable local schools do not seek the higher decibel variances and said louder volumes can cause harm: “80 to 90 decibels would cause hearing damage and with prolonged exposure and this is even higher than that.”
Council Member Provatsky said he appreciated the concerns about noise but moved approval, noting the events bring fans and business to the neighborhood. The council voted to approve the three variances. No conditions or modifications were read into the record at the time of the vote.
