City leaders want to give those living near music venues a little peace and quiet, so they approved new rules for developers.
AUSTIN, Texas — A cornerstone of what makes Austin a special place to live is the prevalence of live music everywhere. It’s something that some Austinites fight to protect.
“I put on a deep voice and say ‘because it’s very important to our economy,’ but it is,” said Dr. Sullivan with the Cultural Trust Advisory Committee. “Austin’s reputation is that it is a very important place for entertainment.”
However, that reputation can also be a curse. So council members approved new rules for developers who want to build homes and hotels near noisy venues.
For years, Sullivan said neighbors and hotel guests have been complaining about noise from nearby venues.
“Neighborhoods have a right to complain when there’s noise from highways, from people blowing their horn in the street or from a nearby music venues that’s blasting out bass,” Sullivan said.
It’s something that Anna Bunker, who lives off South Lamar close to venues like Saxon Pub, said she has to manage nightly.
“My quality of sleep … Like nightlife would be better if that was definitely toned down,” Bunker said. “I don’t want to be going to a bar every single night.”
The Austin City Council took action by approving an ordinance that helps developers understand the sound levels in their area. The ordinance requires new residential and hotel development projects within 600 feet of an establishment with an outdoor music venue permit, or within 300 feet of a performance venue, to conduct a sound assessment.
Officials will also create a mapping tool that helps future residents learn about nearby businesses that are music-related.
“It’s called the Agent of Change principle. Basically the principle is that whoever’s there first, they’re the ones that have the entitlement to be there,” Sullivan said. “For example, if a music venue is there, that’s an outdoor music venue and somebody builds an apartment building right next door, then that apartment building should put in soundproofing,” Sullivan said.
It’s a compromise that Sullivan said avoids conflict between venues and their neighbors while also allowing Austin to keep doing what it does best.
“We need to do what we can to protect it, but we also need to protect the right of people to sleep,” Sullivan said. “The right of moms to put babies to bed and not have the babies woken up.”