Cape looks to adjust South Cape noise regulations
The city of Cape Coral may increase allowable “noise” levels in the South Cape Entertainment District.
There is discussion regarding changes to the noise prameters in the Land Use Development Regulations.
Wyatt Daltrey, planning team coordinator for the city, said the city is looking at whether it’s appropriate to have an area exempt from noise regulations, centered on Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace between Del Prado and Coranado.
“The idea is that we have Bike Night and the occasional outdoor concert, and we didn’t want to regulate them out of existence,” Daltrey said. “We don’t want to throw out a number and then not be able to have Bike Night anymore.”
The discussion has caused some concerns
Tony Adinolfi, who lives near Bimini Basin and has regularly stated his concerns regarding noise in meetings, said it’s possible that once that area becomes developed and there’s a zoning district all its own, that it will be open season on concerts and other noisy events all year.
“Increasing the decibel levels is a big change. If you don’t know the difference in decibel levels, you don’t know much about them,” said Adinolfi, who attended Wednesday’s Planning & Zoning Commission’s workshop to provide input. “Have we even done tests on sound? I may run a sound test myself.”
According to decibel measures, a normal conversation is about 60 decibels. An increase in 15 decibels would be more than double that, like a passenger car driving by at 65 mph from 25 feet away.
Daltrey said nothing is set in stone and that there are many ways the city can go, such as imposing a hard time limit such as 10 p.m. He said they won’t know until they get feedback.
“It’s a community value. It’s like parking on the grass. Noise is like that, and some people like it quiet,” Daltrey said. “We’re months away from a decision.”
The proposition should not impact events such as Bike Night, one of the city’s most popular, and loudest, events. Thousands of motorcycles and rock concerts are the main features, which are all well over 75 decibels at the source.
That is because of a special exception in the ordinance allows noises “consistent with cultural, sporting, historical or traditional observances, holidays and ceremonies, parades and concerts, provided that any event being operated for profit shall obtain a permit prior to such event”
The ordinance also grants waivers under circumstances “in which the activity creating the noise is of such importance to the public welfare, health or safety that the activity cannot be shut down, even though its noise levels exceed those given”
Adinolfi said he was concerned about the noise that would be coming out of South Cape venues which have applied to have their bar hours extended to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and some holidays.
As of presstime, two venues, Dixie Roadhouse and Nevermind, had applied.
Adinolfi was also concerned about the possible pressure the entertainment district could be under to hold more special events that fall under the special exception umbrella, especially those put on by the city’s Parks & Recreation Department, which could extend to Bimini Basin once developed.
“Your residents don’t know the changes. They will because I will inform them. They will not like that and will not find that acceptable just so Dixie Roadhouse can make more money,” Adinolfi said.
Robert Pederson, the city’s planning manager, said there are three aspects to the code: the ordinance, which won’t change; the standards in Bimini; and the general noise requirements.
There are exceptions that are specific for the entertainment district.
Daltrey said the ordinance is geared so that it impacts residents as little as possible, which is in the core of Southeast 47th Terrace. There are no noise constraints, but they attempt to strike a balance between downtown and residential, from distance to hi-tech sound diversion.
“These people bought into the community for a reason and we don’t want to disturb that. But we are a growing community, not a retirement community. We’ll try to create a balance,” Daltrey said.