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Thames Street Kitchen Owner Agrees to Close Windows at 10 p.m. to Limit Noise; License Approved
Summary
After neighbor complaints about late-night music, the license applicant agreed to close windows at 10 p.m.; council approved the entertainment license with that condition following a public hearing.
Neighbors near Thames Street Kitchen and Chanterelle asked the council to limit entertainment to end earlier and to require closing windows and doors to prevent indoor music becoming outdoor noise.
Edward Lupo, who lives at 18 Holland Street, presented photos and urged the council to cut music hours from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m., saying outdoor chatter and patrons on seating counters cause late-night noise. Anna Jenkins, the applicant, said the restaurants only play low-volume recorded music and are not seeking live performances: "We're not looking to have live music," she said, and agreed to close windows at 10 p.m. as a compromise.
Councilors debated whether the city should preemptively restrict businesses or rely on enforcement of the noise ordinance; the city solicitor said courts typically expect enforcement to react to violations rather than pre-qualify limits, but that a 10 p.m. window closure seemed a reasonable restriction. The council voted to approve the entertainment license with the applicant's agreed conditions.
