St. Charles considers noise ordinance

Businesses generating noise loud enough to pester residents in St. Charles first became an issue when Wal-Mart came to town. Now, some of the city's elected officials are eyeing a rollback on the noise volume throughout the entire city.

The issue has the potential of affecting every business in the city, particularly those that still operate when the sun goes down or are located within 300 feet of a residence.

Discussion by aldermen on the planning and development committee on Monday night showed new comprehensive noise rules in residential neighborhoods are the most likely portion of a new noise law to become a reality. There was little disagreement that mowing lawns, playing music and working on cars in the driveway could all use some time and volume limits.

The bigger stumbling block is in the realm of noise in commercial and semi-commercial areas. Discussion of that portion of a noise ordinance may focus on fairness and pit existing businesses against emerging residential areas and new commerce coming into town.

"If you're an existing business and people are going to build houses around you and complain the noise, I've got a problem with that," said Ward 1 Alderman Ron Silkaitis said. "If they were there first and people move around them knowing it's a business, I have a problem telling them what time they can do deliveries. You can work with them, talk to them, but to force them to do it, I have a problem with that."

Some alderman agreed with Silkaitis' philosophy, such as Dan Stellato. But others said a nuisance is a nuisance and the city should empower itself to address residents' concerns.

Ward 2 Alderman Betsy Penny said she didn't buy the notion that existing businesses will move out of town if they are told to alter times for deliveries, trash removal or other noisy activities until later in the day.

"If it's causing a problem for the residents, then it's causing a problem for the residents," Penny said.

City staff told the alderman it will be difficult, if not impossible, to create a noise ordinance that applies to some businesses and not others. They'll go back to the drawing board and try to develop a full draft of a new noise ordinance in time for the committee's next meeting in September. Missing so far is public and business input on the issue. Aldermen left the door open to a possible public hearing