Beaufort to revisit noise ordinance revisions, Sea Eagle sale

Beaufort will again consider possible changes to its noise ordinance as it works to balance its goal of having more people living downtown with maintaining night life.

The topic is planned for a City Council workshop at 5 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall. Some downtown residents have been at odds with restaurant owners , customers and DJs who make up the downtown entertainment scene.

After multiple discussions during the past year, council members asked Beaufort Police Chief Matt Clancy to study what other cities have done. Clancy said Monday he looked at Charleston's ordinance and will present aspects of those rules for council's consideration.

"Our job is to enforce the ordinance the way council wants it," Clancy said. "Once they make their decision, we'll carry it out."

The city's current ordinance is a web of time blocks, days of the week, decibel levels and distances that some have said is too difficult to understand.

Charleston's ordinance is based on the times during which noise is restricted rather than sound readings -- rules Clancy said might be easier to understand and enforce.

As rules stand in Beaufort, sound should never reach 85 decibels at a business's property line. On the south side of Bay Street facing the water, in what the city recognizes as the "Nighttime Music District," there is no amplified music, radios, whistles and other similar noisemakers allowed between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. seven days a week, and between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.

That leaves a gap to allow for outdoor music during late nights on Fridays and Saturdays.

During a meeting with city council a year ago, developers interested in establishing more downtown living opportunities asked for clarification on the noise ordinance and what they could expect moving forward.

As the city works toward its Civic Master Plan's goal of more people living downtown, some ambiguities in the current ordinance need to be addressed, City Councilman Mike McFee said.

For instance, nighttime entertainment options are expanding beyond the waterfront and in places more apartments are planned, and restaurants and other venue owners need to be clear on the noise rules, McFee said.

"We obviously don't want to inhibit having multi-uses in those areas, but in the same sense we do want to address the fact that we're having residential blend within those same areas," McFee said.

Paul Thompson, owner of Panini's, told council last year that his venue attracts the most attention related to noise and that the restaurant should be punished if it breaks existing laws. But he added that the tourists and military members enjoy being outside on the waterfront at night.

He said the city needs a solution that serves both residents and visitors.

Council to also consider Sea Eagle sale

City Council will also take a first vote Tuesday on whether to allow the city to buy Sea Eagle Market.

Buying and demolishing the Boundary Street seafood establishment is a key part of a multi-entity plan to open up the stretch of land to create a park and sweeping views of Battery Creek.

Beaufort County bought Huddle House last month for $506,000 and Beaufort County Open Land Trust was set to buy the United Way of the Lowcountry Building.

The remaining holdouts are a gas station, Wendy's and former fire station buildings.

Dean Moss, the Open Land Trust board member who has led the effort to create the park, said last month patience would be required in securing the remaining property.

Follow reporter Stephen Fastenau at twitter.com/IPBG_Stephen.

Related content:

• Beaufort noise ordinance discussion draws passionate crowd, Jan. 27, 2015
• 5 things to know about Beaufort's noise debate, Jan. 31, 2015
• After complaints about nightlife, Beaufort leaders consider noise ordinance, March 30, 2014

This story was originally published January 11, 2016 at 1:18 PM with the headline "Beaufort to revisit noise ordinance revisions, Sea Eagle sale."