Langley’s noise ordinance set for review

Langley’s Planning Advisory Board tweaked the city’s noise and nightlife ordinance proposal this week.

Langley’s Planning Advisory Board tweaked the city’s noise and nightlife ordinance proposal this week.

Under the proposal, low-intensity amplified music would be allowed until 8:30 p.m. on weeknights and 9:30 p.m. on weekend evenings.

“It’s meant to be like a dinner service, not a primary concert,” said Jeff Arango, Langley’s planning director.

Another rule restricts music from being loud enough to be heard from an adjacent single-family residence’s property line.

The new ordinances would be adopted on a six-month interim basis.

“We’re trying to take it slow and see what people think,” Arango said.

The planning board decided against incorporating a decibel reading as part of the proposal. Arango advised the board that enforcing noise rules with a decibel meter is difficult, at best, and challenging to submit in court should an incident get to that point.