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Decibel Debate: Chattanooga City Council Mulls What Is "Too Loud"

200 views · Published 13 August 2014 · 1:17 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2014 · News & Politics

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A Decibel Debate takes over Chattanooga City Hall.

Tuesday night, City Council members made changes to a proposed noise ordinance that would allow businesses to play their music a little bit louder. For the first time, NewsChannel9 is hearing from one of the business owners who has been part of this since the beginning. 

The story first started back in July, when Track 29 challenged the city's noise ordinance, calling it too quiet. Not long after, Chattanooga City Leaders came up with a proposed ordinance that raised decibel levels creating controversy among area neighbors.

The whole debate circulates around one idea, when is the music too loud to handle? Playing different genres of music, Chattanooga city leaders, sound engineers and the public tested that idea first hand.

But Tuesday night's outcome is not what residents like John Petrey hoped for.

"They did hear a sound demonstration today and saw pictures rattling on the walls. But then they set a DbC level higher than they were rattling the walls. That's frustrating to me," said Petrey.

Some of those amendments included changing the bass level from 95 to 90 decibels. Right now, the decibel limit in the area is 50. They also voted to implement a bass decibel limit of 70 for establishments operating between 3 and 11 am.

"I'm hoping that what this council is doing is helping small businesses and residents determine what's right and not," said Chattanooga City Councilman Chris Anderson.

NewsChannel9 spoke to Track29 owner, Adam Kinsey. 

"Now since we have a base line hopefully set by City Council next week, we'll know what we need to go meet," said Kinsey.

Kinsey says right now, he's put in about $30 thousand dollars in soundproofing and plans to add another fifteen to twenty more. He also says the venue monitors bands closely. He tells us the last time they had an issue was in 2013.

"It's the only time we allowed a band that has used their own audio system. He has wanted to come back and play again and we've told him no so we're definitely looking at more carefully what artists we do have in the room," said Kinsey.

After discussion, Chattanooga City Council decided to defer the vote for one week in order for the public to review the amendments.

By Alyssa Spirato 

Original Story:_______________________________________________

After an evening of debate on Tuesday, the Chattanooga City Council decided to put off a final vote on the new noise ordinance proposal for another week, to consider several new amendments.

The debate included how to define what is "too loud," and the appropriate decibel level maximum for an area in Chattanooga now designated as the "downtown amplified music district."

That district includes Track 29, one of many businesses hoping the city council will allow concerts to continue at the current volume.

Many residents have complained about the noise, and have asked the City Council to implement a new policy.

Council Chairman Chip Henderson proposed that a sound boundary be extended to 7th street. He says it will create a buffer between family friendly and music.

But Councilman Chris Anderson said that would exclude the bars already located on 4th Street.

The debate then turned to decibel levels. Councilman Moses Freeman suggested moving the official decibel maximum from 95 to 85 on weekdays 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. He also proposed the 3 .a.m to 11 a.m. spot to be raised to 70 decibels.

Councilman Larry Grohn says there needs to be a distinction between entertainment and "intermittent noises," such as people talking or cars. 

The council eventually voted unanimously to amend ordinance to rename the area "downtown amplified music district."

It also voted 5-1 to shrink the boundary to 7th street at Market

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