On Tuesday the Common Council discussed relevant event petitions and motions for the Madison community, focusing on a pledge to reduce public and private events at the Edgewater Hotel.
The council moved to public hearings regarding the Edgewater Hotel, which is located in the Mansion Hill neighborhood and represented by Ald. Ledelle Zellers, District 2. Speakers were from the Edgewater Hotel and community members such as Monet Schuster.
“It really angers me that I’m paying for rent yet have to leave my rented home each time these events occur,” Schuster said.
The main concern with the hotel is the noise from private and public events. Other community members like Schuster complained they always need to shut their windows and turn on the air conditioning and fans to drown out the noise.
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Those against the reduction of events argued in favor of the Alcohol License Review Committee’s plan. The ALRC proposed an event reduction from 45 to 35 events per year with a maximum of 70 decibels at the street level, which Zellers hopes to create even more reductions, including those on private events. Neighbor to Edgewater Harvey Wendall, is in support of ALRC position.
“I honestly have to tell you, we haven’t [heard a lot of noise]. It’s always over by 9 o’clock at night,” Wendall.
Wendall continued saying the Edgewater Hotel is just one of many music venues, such as the Memorial Union. Alyssa Wolkens, Edgewater employee and new Madison resident, agreed with Wendall pointing out that outsiders view Madison as an up and coming city which is embodied by concerts, like those at the Edgewater,
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Joanna Berush, a former music store owner, believes a decibel goal of 70 or 65 is unreasonable. She said if Edgewater stopped holding music concerts, there will inevitably be a line of other, much louder, venues waiting to take its spot. It would also shut down their business.
“I represent we the people not me the people,” Berush said. “The agreement was made and now people are changing the details of what was agreed upon.”
This is not the first time the Edgewater Hotel has been reviewed for noise complaints. They have already reduced their music events and with the rare exception, end their events by 9pm said attorney Daniel A. O’Callaghan.
After the public hearing was closed, Zellers defended her stance for the reduction o events at Edgewater Hotel. She said some of her constituents have already begun to move because of the loud noise, even though they have put time and money into their homes.
Alderman Michael Meyer agreed with Zellers’s argument, labeling it as a health issue.
“It is a health issue, it is a real issue. It’s not one that they’re making up. And we should respond to that concern,” Meyer said.
At the end of their discussion, the council voted 11-7 to grant the ALRC’s motions until further reconsideration.
