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Neighbors press Hotel Viking over stadium‑style lights and noise; council continues license decision
Summary
Residents near the Hotel Viking told the city council the hotel's new, intense parking-lot lighting and rooftop activity have intruded on sleep and property use; hotel representatives said 12 of 18 new lights were removed and shielding will be added. The council continued the licensing item to May 27 so the full board can vote.
Neighbors of the Hotel Viking told the Newport City Council that newly installed, stadium‑style lighting and expanded outdoor activity have seriously affected their lives and property enjoyment.
Julie Priestly, who said she owns 12 High Street, told the council the hotel had installed five poles with spotlights that now ‘‘complete the encircling of my property’’ and described them as ‘‘40‑foot intense stadium lights’’ that are ‘‘on from dawn until dusk’’ and make it impossible to peacefully use outdoor spaces. Mike Nahill, another nearby resident, said the lights ‘‘permeate our homes’’ and likened the effect to a lit baseball field at night. Neighbor Nee Fohan said noise from the hotel rooftop — live music and amplified sound — has increased and makes it hard for residents and elderly neighbors to sleep.
Hotel counsel Rob Stoltzman and general manager Jay Sheldon responded that the new ownership is working to restore the property and to address neighbors’ concerns. Stoltzman said the hotel has already removed many fixtures: "since the last hearing, 12 of the 18 lights... have been removed fully." He said the remaining lighting can be shielded and that management will continue one‑on‑one conversations with affected neighbors and the city to find an acceptable balance between safety and neighborliness.
Councilors and staff described on‑the‑record steps the hotel has taken and asked the management to provide more detailed, technical fixes. City staff and a councilor noted Newport’s illumination and lighting performance standards under the municipal code and indicated several fixtures still require elimination or proper shielding to stop light from spilling into adjacent yards.
The council did not vote on the Viking’s liquor/license expansion at this meeting. Members moved and passed a continuance to ensure a full board is present for the decision; the item was continued to May 27. The continuance followed multiple public commenters asking for more time to work with the hotel and for all councilors to have a chance to vote.
What happens next: Hotel representatives agreed to continue direct outreach to neighbors, to remove or shield remaining bright fixtures and to return with more information when the council resumes the matter on May 27. The council’s continuation preserves residents’ right to additional testimony and ensures absent councilors can participate in the final vote.
