Amplified okay outside for breweries, but not restaurants
Noise from “dueling bands” echoed as the biggest fear among Blue Ridge City Council members when they discussed amplified music rules last week.
A discussion over music being played outside at breweries and restaurants that began in a previous city council meeting and continued through a committee resurfaced during a council workshop Wednesday, June 21.
Councilman Jack Taylor said, “I don’t want dueling bands” competing for attention.
He made that comment after Mayor Rhonda Haight said the “biggest fear” she has heard from residents was everyone playing music at the same time.
Blue Ridge Attorney Laura Ray played a recording made inside her office of loud music from a nearby restaurant being heard during her work day.
When a comment was made that two bands could never be heard at once, Ray contradicted that comment saying that it had, in fact, been a problem at her West Main Street office.
Councilman William Whaley urged his counterparts to “stick by the original recommendation” of the committee, which would mean leaving restaurants “the way they are,” unable to play amplified music outside.
Councilwoman Angie Arp voiced her agreement.
City council members will hold a first reading of the ordinance at their July meeting that will allow breweries, wineries and distilleries to have amplified music outside Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. They would then vote on changes in August.
Restaurants will continue to fall under the Alcohol Ordinance rule that prohibits playing amplified music outside, but allows acoustic music outside.
Music being played inside is not affected, but remains allowed under the current rules.
The alcohol ordinance will also be amended to make any additional brewery or winery permit a conditional use, meaning the city council would have to vote for approval. This allows the council to “take up breweries on a case by case basis,” City Attorney Chuck Conerly told the council.
Council members agreed the new rules could be reviewed in six months.