Avalon Considers Outside Music

AVALON — Council welcomed feedback from restaurant owners and the public for or against noise prohibition waivers for liquor license holders at its work session May 6.
Councilman Joseph Tipping said waivers are a logical consideration after the borough passed an outdoor dining ordinance.
Two establishments, The Golden Inn and Whitebrier, told council they aren’t interested in loud rock bands but rather they would like to have ambient Muzak by the pool or a string quartet during outdoor wedding receptions daily between noon and 8 p.m.
John Allison, marketing director of The Golden Inn, located oceanfront at 78th Street, said the R-M central lodging district is it’s own tourism destination. He said the Golden Inn’s Z-shape and natural and manmade buffers would contain noise.
Allison said his bottom line is to keep his customers happy. With some paying $500/night for a beachfront room, he doesn’t want to disturb their ability to hear the ocean.
Michael Chirp, restaurant manager at the Whitebrier, said he is not interested in live music and would like a disc jockey during the day on the outside deck.
Lisa Voellm of Jack’s Place, which does not have outdoor seating, told council, “What’s good for one liquor license establishment is good for them all,” and she requested that noise prohibition waivers be approved across the board for all liquor license holders.
Council has not yet made a decision and anticipates hearing more requests at its meeting May 13 to consider waivers as liquor licenses are renewed.
No one spoke in opposition at the meeting. However, Avalon Home and Land Owners Association Vice-President Michael Matt presented council April 8 with results of a survey of 800 AHLOA members asking for opinions on the matter. Many did not favor issuing waivers but would agree to a trial period as long as it would be limited and/or monitored.
“Avalon is a residential town, not one built around entertainment. AHLOA rejects the premise that Avalon is a tourist destination; it is more of a second-home town,” Matt read an AHLOA policy statement on behalf of the organization, which represents about 1,500 borough property owners.
Mayor Martin Pagliughi disagreed with these AHLOA statements in a letter to the editor in the Herald’s May 6 edition saying that tourists enhance quality of life.
Pagliughi hosted a rally of county leaders April 28 to fight for state beach replenishment funds and cited tourism as the economic engine, employment generator and lifeblood of the community.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck@cmcherald.com.