Downtown Safety Harbor residents and business owners spar over live music

SAFETY HARBOR — It’s a situation that’s been around as long as downtown districts have existed: the densely populated areas produce a certain level of noise, and some people who live nearby don’t like it.

That scenario has been playing out in Safety Harbor for several months, as residents have complained to the city, called the cops, and pleaded with downtown bar and restaurant owners to keep the noise down.

The situation reached a crescendo in mid-April when a citation was reportedly issued to Bar Fly, a Main Street hot spot that typically features live music, for violating the city’s noise ordinance,...