Stamford Parks and Rec Commission pauses OKs of new music events

STAMFORD — The Stamford Parks and Recreation Commission won’t approve any new event proposals that include “amplified music” until the Board of Representatives weighs in on what that means.

Melanie Hollas, chairwoman of the commission, said during the June 25 meeting she expected the group to have to review more events that request “amplified music” and that the city was looking to host more events in its parks. 

Some members of the commission said the regulations that define “amplified music” were too vague. That law, however, Hollas said, had been used to deny “the majority of amplified music requests.” 

The commission voted 5-0 to hold off on approving any new event applications that include amplified music until it received guidance from the Board of Representatives. 

Regulation 175-1-23, titled “Noise; Amplified Music,” says no one can make “unreasonable noise” in any park or recreational facility, which is defined as any noise that is an “excessive or unusually loud sound that could reasonably be expected to disturb the peace, comfort or repose of a reasonable person of normal sensitivity,” according to the regulation. 

That same rule also does not allow for the use of any “sound reproduction device,” like a speaker system, without a permit from the city. There are some exemptions, including acoustic instruments and automobile and portable radios, that must “not unreasonably disturb other persons,” according to the rules. 

There is no exact decibel limit mentioned in the rules, though. 

Hollas said she specifically wants the Board of Representatives to help better define what “unreasonable noise” is and say what should be allowable exemptions under that rule.  

Hollas said she was uncomfortable potentially allowing events that had “amplified music” after the city passed an ordinance that sought to curb that type of loud noise, specifically by limiting the use of external loudspeakers in cars. She said the city already gets “a lot of noise complaints.” 

“It’s hard for me to accept that we are telling a certain group of people that you’re not allowed to have amplified music because it’s unreasonable and it bothers other people, but then we’re allowing amplified music events to happen in the park that may bother the same people,” Hollas said. 

Benjamin Pomerantz, a member of the commission, said the language of the rule that discussed “amplified music” would be hard to enforce because what is “unreasonable” for one person may not be to another. 

“We have to find a way to allow for use in public parks that allows for music, and sometimes even amplified music, but in a way that takes into consideration the neighbors,” Pomerantz said. 

Commission member Angela Adetola said Pomerantz’s comments “made a lot of sense.” She also said different groups in the city would have different reactions and wants in relation to the events the commission reviews and that the commission needs to be mindful of those. 

“We just have to really figure out a balance for what we’re doing when we have to vote on these types of events,” Adetola said. 

Commission member Paul Newman said the line should be drawn at what the nearby community relative to an event wanted. People showing up to speak against an event is evidence of an “unreasonable intrusion into those people’s quiet areas,” he said. 

A permit to allow that type of noise should not be given out if the community doesn’t want it, he said.

Commission member Michael Tedder agreed with Newman. However, he said a “blanket denial” for any special event application with music is “not really warranted” and not in the city’s best interest.