Easton Town Council passes ordinance to prohibit outdoor music at night

EASTON — A new ordinance to prohibit outdoor music after 10 p.m. was passed by the Easton Town Council on Monday. It comes after residents expressed concerns about excessive noise coming from the Tidewater Inn on Dover Street.

Ordinance 823 states that “amplified music from commercial establishments” is not allowed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Council members voted unanimously to approve the legislation after a short discussion.

Resident Helen Houseman lives on Goldsborough Street right behind the hotel and wedding business. She explained her concerns to council members Monday.

“I’d only moved in for a couple of months when the Tidewater hosted a wedding,” Houseman said. “And that music was so loud that I couldn’t hear my TV. I could make out every single lyric that was playing.

“It’s all about the decibels. It is so incredibly loud … When they host an event in that tent, it is so irresponsibly loud that it’s profoundly affecting my quality of life.”

Enid McKitrick, Houseman’s neighbor, agreed.

“It wasn’t just the noise, it was the vibrations in the walls,” McKitrick said. “It felt as if there was a band in my bedroom. It was so loud.”

Resident Brandi Whiting felt the 10 p.m. cutoff was a bit early.

“I think cutting it off at 10 is a little drastic if you want to keep bringing in young people into this town,” Whiting said. “There’s not a lot to do after 9, not a lot to do after 8.”

The ordinance defines amplified music as “any music that is played outside of enclosed structures and is amplified through speakers or other electronic means.” It also states that if doors or windows are open for an “extended period,” then music from indoors will be considered outdoor music and thus be prohibited.

“I do think that Tidewater and any other business should be good neighbors,” Ward 4 Council Member the Rev. Elmer Davis said. “If they’re having something outside, they should talk to the neighbors and make them aware of what’s going on. It’s about being neighborly.”

Council President Frank Gunsallus noted that the ordinance does include the option for businesses to procure a permit to play outdoor music during the restricted hours. The ordinance also exempts “music played for government-sponsored events and ceremonies.”

The ordinance will go into effect 20 days following approval from Easton Mayor Megan Cook.