(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — For the first time since opening last summer amid rampant complaints that concerts were far too loud, Clear Channel Entertainment has publicly declared how it will reduce the noise.
Unfortunately, only one paragraph of the nine-page document turned into by the music industry giant explains what it plans to do. The rest of the proposal is dedicated to more requests that the Hillsborough County officials change their noise restrictions.
Clear Channel plans to curb the sounds of groups like Judas Priest and Korn by reposition lawn speakers and installing a barrier to absorb noise. The company asked that the county play along by easing restrictions to allow, until 11 p.m., some bass heavy bands to generate sound that can register 10 decibels higher at nearby homes than what is now permitted.
In the past year, residents complained about concerts by groups who fit this category, such as the Roots and 311.
“I’m sure that will raise a red flag with residents,” Mike John, a Pinellas County sound engineer unassociated with the case told the St. Petersburg Times. “For Clear Channel to ask to go from 65 decibels to 75 decibels, that’s not doing much to reduce the noise.”
CCE’s proposal is a court-ordered effort to settle a lawsuit filed in January by county officials who claim the amphitheater violates local noise rules.
Officials with the Environmental Protection Commission, which enforces the noise ordinance, will have three weeks to review it and ask Clear Channel for more information. A public hearing with residents who live near the concert venue on Interstate 4 would then be scheduled before county commissioners vote on it in October.
The majority of the document was devoted to arguing why the county’s noise ordinance is unfair.
“The noise rules being applied to the Ford Amphitheatre are substantially different from those being applied to similar facilities and events,” the proposal read, according to the paper.
In its offer to reposition the lawn speakers, the proposal said Clear Channel would only “consider” the effect of the speakers to determine “whether” they should be adjusted. It did not explain where the speakers might go, or at what angle.
As for the barrier, which isn’t described, it will be installed “based on (Clear Channel’s) sound consultant’s recommendation.” Again, no details of the recommendation are included. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
