City drops proposed noise rule

A controversial measure aimed at cracking down on residents violating the city's noise ordinance has died amid uncertain city council support and an outcry of student opposition.

The measure, inspired by complaints from homeowners fed up with loud weekend parties, would have lengthened the time period during which city noise enforcers could hit repeat offenders with double fines. But student leaders argued it would have allowed the city to fine renters for violations previous tenants incurred.

District 3 College Park City Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich, who proposed the measure, said she decided to drop the idea after several council members said the complicated bill confused them.

"I felt, in general, if I went forward with it, it might not win the vote," Stullich said, adding that heated debate on the measure "dismayed" her as everyone involved in the issue quickly became "disrespectful on both sides."

Student Government Association President Andrew Friedson applauded Stullich's decision to drop the legislation, saying it was a win for students who will not have to worry about the violation history of homes they want to rent.

However, Stullich vowed to reintroduce some measure to combat noise problems in the city.

"College Park should be a town where college students and non-students can coexist," she said.

Stullich hopes start with a "clean slate" and come up an idea that can appease both students and permanent residents.

Kathy Bryant, a longtime resident of College Park's Old Town, still hopes for a stiffer noise violation penalty.

Bryant has to drive anywhere from100 to 400 miles each day because of her job as a photographer for a yearbook company that serves Maryland and its surroundings states. She has fallen asleep at the wheel seven times in last few years.

"There have been literally nights where I went to work with no sleep because the kids were yelling and screaming all night long," Bryant said. "It really impacts my livelihood and my safety."

SGA President-elect Jonathan Sachs, who will likely have to deal with future friction between students living off-campus and permanent residents, acknowledged he didn't know much about the situation. But he did recognize that noise was a problem in the city, adding that he would "insist on being a part of the deliberations," should new noise violation-related legislation arise.

District 2 Councilman Bob Catlin said he, too, thought noise was a problem, but he said he didn't think Stullich's resolution was the solution.

He plans on attending this year's Best Practices in Building University/City Relations Conference, a gathering of city and college representatives from across the country, to learn from policies other college-town city councils have enacted successfully.

But District 2 Councilman Jack Perry was less optimistic.

"[Students] expect the neighborhoods to act like dorm rooms," Perry said. "When you move into the community, people in that community are not on the same 'time schedule' as you."

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