Why?

Noise is the most disrespectful of the many forms of interruption we face.  When it rises to the level of disruption, it becomes pollution - just like air or water pollution with their harmful effects.

Many Midtown condo and apartment complex residents face disruptive bar and club noise on a regular basis – almost every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.  It takes the form of outdoor speakers blaring loud live or recorded music into early morning hours, or rowdy patrons leaving the bars/clubs and gathering on public streets to continue the party after closing hours.

Noise is actually a nuisance under the Georgia nuisance statute (O.C.G.A.  41-1-1) that states that “anything that causes hurt, inconvenience, or damage to another and the fact that the act done may otherwise be lawful shall not keep it from being a nuisance…”.

With the huge increase in the development of residential property in commercial areas such as Midtown, a balance of interests must be struck between the bar/club operators and owners and their residential neighbors in order for all of us to live in relative peace.

Purpose of Committee

Members of MQL's Bar Watch Committee:

• Develop and review potential solutions aimed at bridging the balance of interests between bar/club owners and Midtown residents.
  
• Proactively work with Atlanta’s Nightlife Manager and Zone 5 Commander to forge partnerships and solutions with problem establishments in our particular residential areas.
  
• Develop and write up policies, ordinances, and abatement procedures to promote to Atlanta City Council and other City departments to adopt to lessen the friction between these Midtown commercial interests and residents' private rights to peace and tranquility in their own homes.
  

Who Should Be on This Committee

You, if you are proactive and interested in helping develop policies that can actually be adopted and enforced by Atlanta's authorities to lessen bar and club-related noise in Midtown.