Whether or not to allow loud music and dancing on bar and restaurant patios across the city is back up for debate at London city hall.
City politicians on the Planning and Environment Committee will hear from the public Tuesday on the contentious issue. A staff report recommends the ban on amplified music and dancing, which has been in place since July 1993, be lifted citywide. To do that, councillors would have to vote in favour of removing the section of the Zoning By-law that deals with entertainment.
According to the staff report, the current zoning restriction is inconsistent because it prohibits establishments with patios built after 1993 from playing amplified music and allowing patrons to dance. However, that sort of activity was grandfathered in for patios that were already in existence before the zoning bylaw came into force.
Staff further suggest the noise level and hours of operation for patio dancing and music could be regulated under the city's noise bylaw. Changes to how sound is measured, associated time limits, and a new regulation for temporary noise permits for outdoor patios is also being considered by the city.
A bid to introduce amplified music and dancing on patios in the downtown and Old East Village for a six-week trial period last summer was quashed after two appeals were filed with the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). A hearing on the appeals was never held as the temporary zoning bylaw allowing the change expired on September 30, 2016.
While those in support of the change say it will create a more vibrant city, some residents who live in the downtown worry the added noise will make the area unbearable to live in.
So far, 23 letters and e-mails opposed to the proposed changes have been received by the city. Included with those is an 11 name petition from the Camden Place Residents and an 18 name petition from the Downtown London Noise Committee.
A Pall Mall resident wrote that he and his wife are already forced to sleep with their windows closed and "ambient noise activated" in the summer months in order to drown out the sound from two nearby establishments. Another downtown resident argued that amplified music and dancing on patios should remain in the zoning bylaw because it "is a land use issue."
"We urge you to reject this zoning amendment and do more research to better understand why cities do not place land use under noise bylaws," wrote the Central Ave. resident.
The city has also been hearing from those in support of the proposed change with 17 letters backing the idea received.
One came from Dennis Winkler, owner of Winks Eatery on Richmond St.
"Our business is very competitive and music helps attract new customers to the core as well as help retain existing customers who will stay if there is entertainment on the patios," Winkler wrote. He went on to indicate the change would result in more staff being hired and more musicians finding local gigs.
Downtown London's board of directors echoed Winkler's' thoughts and also noted it's the intention of the downtown businesses to "happily coexist with the residential population and have the ability to remain competitive."
The public participation portion of Tuesday's meeting will begin at 5pm.
