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Council renews liquor licenses amid neighbor noise complaints; businesses pledge improved police coordination
Summary
The commission renewed Class C liquor licenses for local restaurants after police and operators reported improved cooperation; neighbors raised long-term noise and vibration complaints from an upstairs condominium, prompting commissioners to stress full cooperation with police.
At a public hearing on March 9, the Birmingham City Commission considered renewal of class C liquor licenses for several restaurants, including Sidecar Slice & Shift and 220 Merrill. Police (Captain Mike Simpson, speaker S10) told the commission that follow-up meetings with operators resulted in improved communications and steps to address problems raised earlier by the police department.
Owners Zaid Alaya (speaker S22) and Steven Simon (speaker S23) described actions they had taken — updating contact information, training staff and agreeing to swift responses to police calls. Simon said he had provided his personal cell number to a nearby resident as part of efforts to resolve disturbances quickly.
But nearby condominium resident Stuart Raider (speaker S16) told the commission he had repeatedly called police about excessive noise and bass vibrations since 2020 and said the problem persisted; he provided an estimate that police had been asked to respond many times in a recent multi-year span and urged the commission to consider his record in license decisions. Commissioners emphasized the limited formal role the commission plays (an advisory recommendation to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission in some contexts) and focused on operational cooperation, policing and compliance.
"Since 2020, I estimate that I have involved the Birmingham Police Department close to 50 times due to excessive noise and disturbance and vibrations in my floor coming from the business and its patrons," resident Stuart Raider told the commission during public comment.
After hearing from police, the business representatives and public commenters, the commission adopted a resolution to approve the renewal of the 2026 liquor licenses for the restaurants in question. Commissioners made clear they expect full cooperation with the police department going forward and asked staff to track compliance and to return to the commission if further violations occur.
What’s next: license renewals were approved on the record; staff and police will monitor complaints and the commission reiterated that cooperation with the police and timely remedial actions are expected to remain conditions of continued good standing.
