Entertainment Commission approves Phoenix Hotel loudspeaker permit subject to on-site sound test and earlier shutdown

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission on July 19 approved a loudspeaker permit for Chambers at the Phoenix Hotel with conditions requiring an on-site sound test and a short shutdown window.

Isabelle Manchester, a partner in the Phoenix Hotel, told commissioners the hotel typically schedules summer Sunday events from noon to 6 p.m. but requests permits through 7 p.m. so there is time for shutdown. She said staff now use decibel meters, position speakers at the courtyard corners and notify the one known complainant of the event schedule. Neighbor Steve Heimerley described persistent low-frequency vibration that reaches his sixth-floor apartment despite double-pane windows and said he welcomed an inspector measurement during an event to document the issue.

Inspector Sean Burke said the courtyard is acoustically difficult: it is open to the sky, surrounded by taller buildings that reflect bass and cause the sound to travel unpredictably. Commissioners debated mitigation options including physical improvements to the resident’s windows, additional sound curtains, and using inspector measurements to set event limits. Commissioner Lee moved to approve the permit on the condition that staff and the inspector perform a sound check during the event, set ambient/event levels accordingly and work with the neighbor on next-permit decisions; an amendment limited the authorized end time to 6:10 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

The commission directed staff to document the ambient and event levels (dBA weighting where applicable) and to return to the commission if future events or measurements show the current configuration causes a continuing disturbance. The action applies to the July 20 event at Chambers; staff will report back before future permits are approved for the Phoenix Hotel.