For over two years (since 2011) Fountain Blue has been
pumping out noise pollution from its tent located at 2300 Mannheim Road, Des
Plaines into the nearby residential community. The noise has been generated by
the DJ, banquet music and the crowd. For the neighbors, this has meant a
disturbance of the peace on weekends some 50-75 times throughout the year.
As neighbors, are goals are very simple--have peace and
quiet and protect our property values.
The neighbors are well organized and determined to return
their backyards and homes to the peace they enjoyed before the tent was erected.They have sought and gotten professional advice from seasoned acoustic consultants. One such consultant indicated the sudden burst of laughter, applause, chanting, singing, whistling, yelling, etc. all cause disturbance of the peace for neighbors who live as close as 400 feet from the tent.
In discussion with one of the consultant he said, “You have two options, change what is coming out of a tent or put it in a building.” He went on to say, that he has not found any example of where an event outdoor like this has been successful in keeping the sound down in residential areas—NONE.
Fountain Blue will be coming to the zoning board meeting proposing a twelve foot wall running outside the tent on the north and west side. Further studies by acoustic consultants indicate it will only reduce the sound by half and not fully address the burst of noise throughout a typical banquet.
This disturbance of the peace by the Fountain Blue tent is a well-documented, well established problem. What is being proposed to the zoning board is merely chipping away at the problem and not fully addressing the realities that you simply cannot expect sound to be contained in a tent.
All residents are encouraged to attend the public meeting of the Zoning Board on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at 7:30 PM, City Hall, 1420 Miner Street, Des Plaines. The City has the responsibility and obligation to protect its tax paying citizens. How the city handles this well publicized issue with the Fountain Blue noise pollution is extremely critical for it will set a precedence in dealing with future noise pollution issues throughout the City of Des Plaines. Your presence is critical to send a signal to the city on these issues.
