City Council Meeting Could Spark Heated Debate

Updated: 1:33 PM Mar 1, 2010

Charlottesville City Council is getting ready for what could be a heated meeting Monday evening. Council members are scheduled to vote on a proposed ordinance that would limit how loudly musicians can play at restaurants in the Belmont neighborhood.

Posted: 11:51 PM Feb 28, 2010
Reporter: Sara Ross
Email Address: sara.ross@newsplex.com

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February 28, 2010

Monday’s Charlottesville City Council meeting will most likely spark some heated debate.

Council members are scheduled to vote on a proposed ordinance that would limit how loudly musicians can play at restaurants like Bel Rio in the Belmont neighborhood after 11 p.m.

Right now the proposed ordinance would limit them to a maximum volume of 60 decibels and that measurement would be taken at the home closest to the restaurant. Many residents say they just want some peace and quiet at night. But, some local musicians say putting them on mute will be bad for Charlottesville.

"It's going to kill the music in Charlottesville” said musician Bennie Dodd. “Charlottesville had people like Dave Mathews and Chris Daughtry and the Charlottesville music scene puts a lot of money back into Charlottesville."

The second issue on the agenda generating buzz is a fight between the city and the developer of Roy's Place subdivision over who will have to pay to fix cracked sidewalks and curbs. Council members want to discuss a proposal to make developer Bobby Banks pay $50,000 to bring them up to code. The issue took center stage during the last snow storm several weeks ago that roared through Charlottesville. The city refused to plow the subdivision’s cul-de-sac saying that it's still private property since it's not up to code. Banks says he believes the city is taking advantage of him.

"The City wants both ways” said Banks. “They want the taxes but, they don't want to render a service.”

The people caught in the middle of this debate are the residents who live in the development’s 16 homes. They were forced to wait for several days after the snow stopped falling before Banks hired a crew to clear the streets.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Monday night at Council Chambers inside City Hall.

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