The Tulip Case | A change to noise regulations worries Plateau citizens

The Plateau-Mont-Royal borough modified its noise regulations on Thursday to try to protect performance halls against legal proceedings like the one that led to the closure of the La Tulipe cabaret. But citizens fear that this change will lead to even more noise pollution, particularly from bars.

The mayor of the district, Luc Rabouin, admitted that he was not certain that this measure would allow the reopening of La Tulipe. “But we know that if there were no changes, there would be other closures,” he declared in an interview after an extraordinary meeting of the borough council.

The elected officials of Plateau-Mont-Royal have modified article 9 of their by-law on noise, so that it no longer applies to performance halls, bars and restaurants.

It is this article which was invoked by the Court of Appeal in its judgment rendered last Monday, ordering La Tulipe not to emit, through loudspeakers, any noise that could be heard outside its walls. . The court ruled on the prosecution of a neighbor of the cabaret, who demanded silence after transforming a commercial building into housing.

“What we want to do today is reassure all establishments that use loudspeakers, by excluding them from article 9, while we continue to review all of our regulations on noise,” explained Mr. Rabouin at the start of the meeting, specifying that the district was acting urgently following the judgment.

“Terrible noise”

Citizens present at the meeting, already bothered by the loud music coming from bars, restaurants and outdoor shows, are however worried about seeing these establishments turn up the volume even more.

This is the case of Monique Trottier, who lives on a residential street near which a local recently obtained a reception permit. “Since the start of summer, every Saturday evening, there’s been a party on two levels: on the ground floor, where a large garage door is open, and on the roof terrace. We hear a terrible noise, even with the windows closed,” she testified.

His calls to the police and the district went unanswered; the police made her understand that they had other priorities, she said.

A resident of Duluth Avenue, Rodrigue Escayola, denounced the sound volume of the approximately 400 shows held on the pedestrian street during the summer, as well as a neighboring restaurant which transformed its parking lot into an outdoor stage.

“Are you thinking about residents and families? Where is the tranquility of citizens indicated in your regulations? “, asked Yves Beaudoin, another resident of Plateau-Mont-Royal.

Mr. Beaudoin stressed that the setbacks at La Tulipe were caused by an error on the part of the borough, which allowed an owner to develop housing in a building adjacent to the performance hall when this was prohibited. “But with this change to the regulations, you are trying to find a solution by creating another problem,” he lamented.

The mayor of the district replied that article 8 of the noise regulation continues to apply everywhere; it provides precise decibel levels not to be exceeded depending on the time of day.

Even if they do not have devices to measure the sound level, the police are responsible for enforcing this regulation. The borough can also send a specialized technician to check if a business is too noisy, indicated Luc Rabouin.

“The decibel measurements that you praise were of no use this summer,” replied Rodrigue Escayola. We had no help. »

The mayor of Plateau-Mont-Royal acknowledged that it is a “challenge” to reconcile the tranquility of citizens with the abundant cultural life in the borough. “It’s a delicate balance,” he admitted.

Mr. Rabouin invited the population of the borough to submit their comments on the proposed changes by the next meeting, scheduled for October 7. Elected officials will then adopt the regulatory changes.

Read the article “Closure of La Tulipe: “No to the dictatorship of a neighbor”, says Valérie Plante”