Naperville to get a little louder

Bars and restaurants in downtown Naperville likely will be allowed to turn up the volume this summer.

The city council this week gave preliminary approval to changes in how loud and how late such venues can play their music.

Last summer, city staff members studied the regulations that prohibit the establishments from playing music that can be heard within 100 feet of the business and found them to be too restrictive.

"In the downtown area we need to be a little bit more understanding of how sound carries," Mayor George Pradel said to the council.

To address the situation, the council voted Tuesday to relax the policy, allowing music amplification of up to 300 feet.

To lessen the impact of the increased volume, the changes to the ordinance require bars and restaurants to turn the music down a little earlier.

Previously, they could amplify music until 30 minutes before they were required to stop serving alcohol. Under the new policy this would still be the case for recorded music, but live music would have to end one hour before they stop serving.

Kathy Benson addressed the council on behalf of the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation and said while the group is glad to see the restricted hours, it would like the sound to be measured in decibels rather than distance.

But Councilman Kenn Miller said although using a decibel meter would be ideal, it would be too difficult to determine whether the sound is coming from multiple venues or even traffic. He considers the changes a good compromise.

The city council voted 7-1 in favor of the new noise rules.

Councilman Richard Furstenau was the lone dissenter, saying "downtown is moving into the neighborhoods" and at one time no noise was allowed outside the downtown bars.

"We've come a long way as it is and I'm not in favor of moving this thing any further," he said.

Councilman John Rosanova was absent.