SNOW HILL – County officials reduced entertainment hours at an Ocean City restaurant in response to noise complaints from neighbors.
After a lengthy hearing Monday, the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners (BLC) found that two violations occurred at Saltwater 75 and subsequently adjusted the music and entertainment hours at the 75th Street establishment.
“Near the bustle and excitement of OC, there are peaceful neighborhoods of wonderful year-round residences,” neighbor Carol Armstrong said. “Our neighborhood was one of these peaceful places until BJ’s indoor music was replaced by Saltwater’s outdoor music. We appreciate the county liquor board’s action to protect our homes.”
The BLC convened Monday to hold a hearing regarding alleged violations of the Alcoholic Beverages Article by Saltwater 75, the new restaurant at the former site of BJ’s on the Water. Numerous neighbors were in attendance to share their concerns about the noise emanating from the facility and its bayfront beach. Armstrong said the outdoor music started at 10 am and went until midnight. She added that when the restaurant hosted live music, it wasn’t the acoustic guitars neighbors had expected, as it was amplified. When asked by Joe Moore, Saltwater 75’s attorney, if she’d called the restaurant or the police about the noise, Armstrong said she’d called the restaurant twice and she’d called the police when the app on her phone said the music was beyond 70 decibels. She said that by the time police arrived, however, the music had been turned down. Moore pointed out that phone apps weren’t capable of accurate measurements.
“Those devices are not allowed to recognized decibels because of ambient noise,” he said.