By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE – The sound from Silver Shores Waterfront Banquet Center last Sunday night was not sweet music to some nearby residents.
For residents trying to sleep with their windows open to catch the breeze, the loud sound was a harbinger of concern about their new neighbor.
Three residents complained at Monday’s City Council meeting about the late-night noise level. Robert Harry, of 23 Walnut, represented Rose Kress of 21 Walnut as well. Both houses are on “Boathouse Row” east of Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital.
Harry said his windows were rattling from the noise that traveled across the marina from the banquet center.
“Last night’s wedding party was the loudest, most raucous bash,” he said. “The police turned it down for 15 minutes — then it went up again.”
Harry said that with only one other 20-minute interlude, the loud music continued until midnight.
Frederick Miller of 15 Walnut complained that he didn’t get to sleep until after midnight.
“I had to close the windows in the boathouse, but then I didn’t have a breeze,” Miller said. “I want to have someone see these people obey the law.”
Bill Kaczmarek, of 3 1/2 Walnut, wants to see the noise ordinance enforced.
“It should be quiet,” he said. “It’s in a hospital zone.”
However, there isn’t a specific city noise ordinance for hospital zones, according to Detective Bobie Heck. A nuisance ordinance, however, prohibits unnecessary or unauthorized noises and annoying vibrations.
He said outdoor events like weddings obtain permits from the city prior to the event. Acceptable noise levels from motor vehicles are described in detail in the city nuisance ordinance.
A Police Department event report shows that a noise complaint was received at 10:06 p.m. Sept. 13. At 10:25 p.m. police were on the scene. No incident reports were filed, nor were any violations issued.
On Tuesday, Ziad Nakad, Silver Shores general manager and co-owner, answered questions about Sunday night’s event, which was his sister’s wedding.
Nakad said the facility was leased in September 2008, and the new business operators spent nine months remodeling the facility. Located at 1 James DeSana Drive (also known as Cedar Street) this was the first outdoor event held there. Nakad said there are no future outdoor events on the schedule at this time.
“We had no idea that there were noise complaints,” Nakad said. “Our goal is to have this place above everyone’s expectations.”
Nakad planned to apologize personally to the affected residents.
“We know the community,” he said. “We want to make sure they are happy and we obey the law.”
Karen Owens, Silver Shores bookkeeper, worked at the facility for 15 years when it was the Wyandotte Yacht Club, and said there were no complaints at that time. However, the South Shore Grill, which followed the club at the location for a couple of years, was too loud and received many complaints.
The building was vacant for about two years between the time South Shore left and Silver Springs leased the facility.
“We used to know all the residents,” Owens said. “We never had a complaint when it was the Wyandotte Yacht Club.
“This organization will have the same rapport.”
She was quick to point out that the outdoor event was not an everyday affair.
“We can learn to position the bands and microphones so it will carry the noise in a different way,” Owens said. “It’s our intention that our neighbors are pleased with us. We want to make it a showcase for the Wyandotte community.”
The city’s outdoor cafe ordinance allows hours of operation until midnight unless longer hours are approved by the Planning Commission and the council. It states that noise radiating from an outdoor cafe which exceeds 50 decibels (as measured on the “A” scale of a standard sound level meter) between 8 p.m. and midnight, or other approved hours, or 55 DBA between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. shall constitute prima facie evidence that such noise unreasonably disturbs the comfort, quiet and repose of persons in the area.
Councilman James DeSana attended the outdoor reception for the traditional Syrian wedding until about 10:30 p.m. and said the couple arrived by boat, and music led them into the ceremony. At no time, he said, did he think the volume was so loud he couldn’t talk with anyone at the table.