Homeowners living along River Road on the Calcasieu River spoke their mind Thursday and Friday and as a result, neither Mardi Gras Boardwalk nor any other entertainment business that builds along Lake Charles will be able to play music over the city’s legal sound limit.

On Friday, the American Press was contacted by several residents who voiced their displeasure with a news story that they believe implied the sound test conducted by the development company did not characterize how loud the amplified music was.

City and company officials conducted several sound tests over 90 decibels — the city’s limit — in hopes of finding out how much effect on the surrounding community blaring music would have. The test was done on the nine acres of property that Mardi Gras Boardwalk wants to buy on the lakeshore to build a multimillion-dollar entertainment complex that would include an amphitheater for outdoor performances.

Sound checks at high decibel levels were conducted Thursday afternoon and night. A policeman equipped with a sound gauge checked the sound levels along Lakeshore Drive, Shell Beach Drive and River Road.

City Councilman Dana Jackson said after the sound test that Mardi Gras Boardwalk would not be allowed to generate music at 100 decibels — which the company had hoped for.

“We told them, after the music was played, they can’t get the limit they wanted,” he said.

Stanley Calderera, who lives on River Road, supports lakefront development but was upset about how loud the music played after 10 p.m.

“With the test that was done, people should have been advised. It is rude to do that at 10:30 p.m.,” he said.

Greg Whelan also lives on the road. He is worried about the impact loud music would have had on the small river community.

“We don’t want to destroy the neighborhood with noise. This is a quiet neighborhood. Also, we don’t want to stand in front of progress.”

Gary Dickson, an official with Mardi Gras Boardwalk, said designers will work within the confines of the law in developing the construction plans.

“We wanted to see what the tolerance was, and the city did a good job of evaluating that. I think we will be able to accommodate,” he said.

Mardi Gras Boardwalk officials and the city are getting closer to finalizing the last details of a purchase and cooperative endeavor agreement that could be voted on by the City Council next month.

Jackson understood that a group of residents were upset about being awakened by the loud music Thursday night and defended the test not being publicized beforehand.

“We wanted legitimate opinion and didn’t want people staying up and hearing for the sounds,” he said. “All we were doing is being proactive. For people who heard it for a small time frame, that is better to hear it now than for the next 30 years. All we did was test and got our answer.”

(mgnonline.com)