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Commission approves amendment to noise ordinance to add temporary concert site exemption
Summary
The commission moved to accept a noise-ordinance amendment that would add 1000 Silver Street to a list of properties exempted from time limits for outdoor concerts while the riverfront site is being permitted; commissioners raised concerns about proximity to residential and behavioral-health facilities and cited decibel ranges for regulated noise.
The Special Public Safety Commission voted to accept an amendment to the city's noise ordinance that adds 1000 Silver Street to a list of sites exempted from normal time limits for outdoor concerts while the riverfront venue permitting continues.
Greg Diaz, the staff presenter, said the city previously carved a riverfront corridor out of night-time limits to allow concerts and that delays at the riverfront prompted officials to seek an interim site at the old Long River Village property. "The only change that's being proposed here is to add 1000 Silver Street to the list of properties that would be exempted," Diaz said, explaining the temporary need while officials work with the housing authority and state reviewers.
Commissioners asked whether the exemption would place concerts closer to residential neighborhoods and nearby behavioral-health and social-service facilities such as Rushford and CJTS. Diaz said local planning, zoning and HUD coordination would be required and that the city would seek those approvals before finalizing any uses. He noted the exemption would tie into broader permitting and that the team aims to have the work done for the next concert season.
Members also discussed noise standards cited in the draft: ranges discussed in the meeting included 45 to 62 decibels depending on the noise type and a commonly referenced 55'60 dB range for certain uses. Diaz said any exemption had previously passed committee and had been handled as a limited, location-specific carve-out rather than a blanket suspension of noise protections.
A motion to accept the ordinance language was made and seconded; the chair called for a voice vote and the ordinance passed. Staff said the amended language would move next to GCC and then to the council for final consideration on the June 1 meeting calendar.
The commission did not set a final performance schedule or event permit at the April 27 meeting; Diaz said those operational details would follow required planning and HUD reviews.
