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Residents tell Pinellas Park council noise from nearby business is 'intolerable'; staff says business is permitted and will be engaged
Summary
Steve and Noreen Hodges urged the council to address loud music from a nearby business (referred to as OCC), saying the late-night noise recently became 'intolerable' and vibrated homes; city staff responded that the business is permitted, city staff take decibel readings and will follow up.
Steve and Noreen Hodges, residents of the Lakes neighborhood, told the Pinellas Park City Council during public comment on Nov. 26 that music from a nearby business they identified as OCC has become "intolerable" and disrupted late‑night sleep for multiple homes.
"When we called about 10 minutes after 10 on Friday night, it was 10:40 before the music stopped," the Hodges said, describing windows that vibrated and neighbors who were similarly affected. They said the noise rules in the city’s ordinance can be hard to apply because a decibel violation may require continuity for a set period, yet intermittent loud music can still be disruptive. The Hodges asked what the city planned to do and suggested technical mitigations — redirecting a van, baffling speakers and other mitigation measures suggested by a neighbor who is a sound engineer.
A city staff member responded that the business in question had the necessary permits and that staff perform decibel readings and follow enforcement orders; "we do go out and check," the staff member said, and staff would work with the business if an issue was found. The staff member noted that noise complaints in that area are relatively infrequent this year but acknowledged that different kinds of music (hard rock) tend to draw more complaints than other genres.
The council did not take formal action at the meeting; staff said they would continue enforcement practices and work with the business to mitigate noise when complaints are substantiated.
Why it matters
Noise complaints highlight the tension between permitted commercial activity and livability for nearby residents. The Hodges’ comments point to real-time enforcement challenges (decibel measurement procedures and complaint timing) and possible engineering solutions that may reduce impacts on adjacent homes.
What’s next
City staff will follow up on the Hodges’ complaint and said they will perform decibel readings and coordinate with the business; the transcript records no formal direction to start a new regulatory process or change city code during this meeting.
