West Chester resident asks council to curb outdoor restaurant music during winter

Holly Brown, a West Chester resident, told the Borough Council on Monday that outdoor music played by restaurants and occasional buskers is making life untenable for upstairs tenants and asked council to begin a conversation about a winter restriction on exterior loudspeakers.

"I'm not asking for you to make a decision tonight, but I would ask you to ask the restaurants not to play music outside during the winter," Brown said, describing repeated bass noise that she said prevented at least one tenant from renewing a lease.

The council chair acknowledged the complaint and said the borough has a noise ordinance that staff will review and report back. "I do believe that there's a noise ordinance, and something related to music after a certain hour. So we'll look into that and provide an update," the chair said.

Why it matters: Residents and business owners often have competing interests over street-level activity in downtown districts. Council members said the issue deserved follow-up so staff can clarify what the existing ordinance covers and whether new rules or enforcement changes are needed.

What was said: Brown said her block has eight different restaurants and that outdoor music varies by business; she described upper-floor apartments experiencing more noise because brick buildings can amplify bass. She also asked about unregulated buskers and whether they can perform at will at corners.

What happens next: Council did not take a formal vote. Staff will review the borough's noise regulations and report back to the council with options and an update at a future meeting.