“I think the way that it has been written and hopefully the way that it is finally approved, it will be acceptable to most venues in town.” – Mary Jane Nalley, Ownership, Gruene Hall (Source: Fox Austin)
No, contrary to misinformation, no one in New Braunfels is actively trying to shut down Gruene Hall with a sound ordinance.
Prior to news of the new proposed sound ordinance making its rounds, New Braunfels had a very subjective, and often called “vague,” noise ordinance. City Council tasked a citizen volunteer committee to tackle the issue of making that ordinance more objective. Here’s the basics of what that task force came up with, and what New Braunfels City Council passed on the ordinance’s first reading this past Monday:
- Residential
- 85 dbA 10a – 10p
- 75 dbA 10p-10a
- Non-Residential
- 85 dbA all times
- Non-Residential within 100ft of Residential Area
- 85 dbA 10a-10p
- 75 dbA 10p-10a
- Music Venue not within 100ft of Residential Area
- 85 dbA all times
- Music Venue within 100ft of Residential Area
- 85 dbA 10a-10p
- 80 dbA 10p-10a
If the ordinance passes on its second reading later this month, the ordinance will have a 60-day implementation grace period, and results of the ordinance will be reviewed by the council no later than one year after its implementation.
