Fort Lauderdale’s next not-so-easy task: Tackling noise wars
Most nights, Fort Lauderdale is wide awake.
Boom-boom music blasts from the beachfront bars and downtown clubs, frequently interrupting the slumber of nearby homeowners. And go-fast motorcycles roar along A1A and Las Olas, interrupting the chatter of diners at sidewalk cafes.
Even Mayor Dean Trantalis has complained about that one thing you just can’t escape in a big city: Noise.
How can Fort Lauderdale keep its lively entertainment districts thriving while making sure nearby neighbors can sleep at night? Fort Lauderdale commissioners are expected to tackle the topic on Tuesday.
“Some people love to live in the middle of all the excitement and some people don’t,” Trantalis said. “We have to see where we can find a middle ground. Fort Lauderdale is no longer a sleepy retirement community. It’s got more energy, more options for dining and entertainment. We can always lower decibel levels, but how does that impact certain businesses? You have to find the balance.”
Two years ago, after a multitude of complaints poured into City Hall, Fort Lauderdale created a task force to take a deeper look at Fort Lauderdale’s noise laws. A year ago, the city hired experts to conduct a soundscape study.
Commissioners are expected to discuss the findings on Tuesday during their afternoon conference meeting that begins at 1:30 p.m.
There’s no question Fort Lauderdale needs to come up with a stricter set of noise laws, says Commissioner Steve Glassman, whose district includes the beach.
“We have to make changes, especially on the beach where you have residents and an entertainment district,” Glassman said. “But you can have all the ordinances you want. It’s going to come down to enforcement.”
Tim Petrillo, whose portfolio of Fort Lauderdale restaurants includes YOLO, was tapped to serve on the city’s noise task force to help come up with ways to solve the problem.
“It’s challenging how noise bounces off buildings and water,” Petrillo said on Monday. “If you live on the New River, noise carries down the river and it might be higher than it is across the street. The noise level read at ground level might not be as high as the noise level on the 38th floor.”
Not every bar or club in town is blasting music well past midnight, Petrillo said. But a few are.
“There’s always some bad apples (cranking up the music),” he said. “We’re trying to get noise laws in place so we can take care of the bad apples. We need to find a balance. But the challenge is there are some bad apples on both sides of this argument. There are bar owners who push the boundaries too far and there are residents who want a way-too-restrictive code. There is going to be more noise downtown. That’s where the restaurants and nightlife are. And that comes with noise.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan
