Popular brewery hits pause on outdoor amplified music due to noise concerns

CANANDAIGUA, NY – For now, the plug is pulled on outdoor amplified music at Twisted Rail Brewing Co., the popular craft beer and food stop on Canandaigua Lake.

Owner Ian Boni, who is seeking a change in the lease that would allow bands to play amplified music again, has started a petition so that customers can be heard on the matter. As of Friday afternoon, more than 2,300 people are on his side.

At issue is noise.

At least two residents at the neighboring Hotel Canandaigua, which has a mix of condominiums for purchase on the top two floors of the five-story building along with hotel rooms, complained to the city about the noise caused by the live music offered at Twisted Rail.

John Zito, who in April purchased a fourth-floor condo facing Twisted Rail, said during City Council’s finance committee meeting Sept. 5 that the volume of music from Twisted Rail is “unbearable” and affects his family’s quality of life.

Twisted Rail leases what is called the Muar House from the city, and a clause in the lease allows for live music that meets city ordinances but does not allow amplified music.

The business has offered live music since moving to this location across the Canandaigua Outlet from the hotel and neighboring the city’s Kershaw and Lakefront parks in 2016. The business added a small outdoor stage earlier this year.

Boni estimates that 17% to 20% revenue can be attributed to offering live music.

“An integral part of owning a brewery is having music to keep the people there to bring the money in the door,” Boni said. “Luckily, summer’s over and we really didn’t have anything booked further in the fall, but I would like to.”

Including seeking a change in the lease agreement, Boni, who said he has purchased noise-reducing shields for the stage, also is proposing to move the stage – which faces the hotel building − to lessen the impact of noise. He said he has moved the end time for live music to 10 p.m. and he and staff try to monitor decibel levels warn musicians about them.

Also you might like — NY PODCAST LAUNCHES: Check out our special "City on Fire" podcast series by Rob Bell about Rochester and dangerous life on the streets in the summer:

No action on the lease was taken by members of City Council’s planning committee at the meeting.

Councilmember Stephen Uebbing, who walks regularly near the lake, said during the meeting that at times the noise is not bad at all and at other times, it’s “outrageously loud.”

"If we can't get it so that it's satisfactory to the people who live there, I don't think we should change the lease," Uebbing said.

City Manager John Goodwin said in a text that the city has and will continue to work with Twisted Rail to find a compromise to allow for live music while also addressing concerns by residents.

Canandaigua Mayor Bob Palumbo said the lease had not been enforced because no residents were nearby to complain, but now there are.

“We definitely want to see Twisted Rail business succeed and keep music there as long as he (Boni) can work with the city and neighbors to have something everybody can live with,” Palumbo said.

At least for now, it’s unclear exactly what happens next, except that the lease, as it stands now, remains in place with the no amplified music clause.

Boni, who has met with the neighbor and understands his position, said the hotel – and others by the lake − also offer live, amplified music. Without live music, not only is Twisted Rail’s “back against the wall,” but musicians and tourists are also hurt.

“It’s not fair to us that we are pigeonholed because the city owns the property,” Boni said. “We should be held to the same standards as the rest of the block. We’re in a commercial district. We bring tourism. We bring tax dollars.”

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Twisted Rail Brewing Co. in Canandaigua NY hits pause on outdoor music