Is it too noisy or are homeowners asking for too much?
- New Tampa noise ordinance calls for Soho noise to be at 55 decibels after 10 p.m.
- Restaurant and bar owners calling the ordinance unfair
- Noise data to be collected for a month before council to discuss ordinance again in Oct.
That is the fight that is ongoing after Tampa city council members told bar owners along South Howard Avenue's entertainment district to turn the music down.
And this weekend will be the first big test of the city's new noise ordinance.
The new ordinance states that bar noise should be capped at 55 decibels after 10 p.m.
By comparison, the normal level of a piano being played is 60-70 decibels. Hearing city traffic from inside of a car is 85 dB, a jackhammer is 95 dB and a power saw operating comes in at 110 dB.
Bar owners flooded this week's council meeting, saying the ordinance is not practical, will hurt business and will limit the use of outdoor patio areas at Soho restaurants and bars.
Still, the ordinance will stand at least for now as the council wants to test the ordinance over the next month.
"This is a quality of life issue," said one local homeowner at the meeting. "We need to take care. And people need to have respect for others. People want to sleep at night."
Known for its party scene, Soho pulls in crowds many nights a week. Local bar owners say they have a right to operate their businesses.
The city will collect data over the next four weeks. Another report is due back to the council by early October.