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Residents tell council McDonald’s lights and weekend parties are disrupting sleep; police/mediation recommended
Summary
During public comment, multiple residents urged the town to address repeated weekend parties, loud music and bright spilllighting from nearby businesses (including McDonald's); council advised residents to use the nonemergency police line to log complaints and discussed county code limits and mediation options.
Several Colmar Manor residents used the public comment period to press the council for stronger responses to persistent nighttime noise and intrusive lighting.
William Stafer (speaker 15) described repeated weekend events that include loud music and spotlights that make it difficult to sleep; he said light from a nearby McDonald’s and other businesses spills into private yards. Resident Doug Bowles (speaker 16) corroborated the complaint, said his household has recordings of sustained noise and that county police told them some lighting issues are not enforceable because the light source is on private property. Bowles urged the council to consider acoustic mitigation at Laracy Park and to explore code or legislative options for business lighting shielding.
Mayor Casanhas (speaker 2) and staff urged residents to call the county non‑emergency police line whenever disturbances occur so a record is created. Staff also pointed to mediation services offered by Prince George’s County as a tool residents can use when neighborly outreach fails. Council members agreed to place neighborhood lighting and noise concerns on a future agenda for further discussion and possible local policy recommendations.
Why it matters: recurring late‑night disturbances and bright LED spill can affect residents’ health and quality of life; they raise questions about county enforcement limits and whether local regulations or agreements with businesses could reduce impacts.
Next steps: staff will add noise and lighting mitigation options to a future agenda; residents were encouraged to continue logging complaints with police to create an enforceable record and to pursue county mediation when appropriate.
