Reasonable sound levels in Virginia Beach restaurants/bars

Petition to establish and enforce reasonable sound levels in Virginia Beach restaurants/bars/night clubs

We, the undersigned residents of Virginia Beach, while in full support of local businesses, are concerned about the continued degradation to the local quality of life caused by the restaurant Omega Mediterranean Restaurant/Bar. This stems not only from continued excessive noise (Virginia Beach City Code of Ordinances Sec. 23-72), which can be heard from up to a distance of at least 50 feet and up to at least 500 feet from the external walls of the business, but also the escalating crime and violence culminating in a shooting on Saturday, February the 26th, 2011, which happened within 350 feet from an established residential neighborhood in the Great Neck Corridor. Furthermore, we are also concerned about a decline in property values especially in light of the current economic environment. In light of this, we request:


1) That Omega Mediterranean Restaurant/Bar and the Breeden Company honor Virginia Beach City Code Sec. 23-72 which states , No person shall permit, operate or cause any source of sound to create a sound level emanating from a restaurant during the hours between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. that is plainly audible and discernible at a distance of fifty (50) feet from any of the restaurant's external walls when measured from any property other than the property on which the restaurant is located".

2) That Omega Mediterranean Restaurant/Bar and the Breeden Company honor Virginia Beach City Code of Ordinances App. A, Art. 2 (C), Sec. 233.1.a.2-4, which state:
● 233.1.a.2 The operation of such establishments shall not disturb the tranquility of residential areas or other areas in close proximity or otherwise interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment of neighboring property by reason of excessive noise, traffic, overflow parking and litter. Noise from any establishment located within five hundred (500) feet of any residential or apartment district or use or hotel shall not be audible from outside the building in which such establishment is located or, where such establishments are located in a freestanding building, from any location not on the same lot, except when exits are opened to allow patrons, employees or other persons to exit;

● 233.1.a.4 Such establishments shall be required to implement any other reasonable measures the city council deems necessary or appropriate to minimize noise or other potential adverse effects upon neighboring areas

3) That should additional clarification of excessive restaurant noise levels be needed, the City of Virginia Beach shall further establish clear and concise parameters that would be acceptable to both businesses and citizens, such as using the dB C scale for the measure of bass levels.