Darien Officials Disagree On Noise Rules Review

DARIEN, IL — A Darien alderman wants the city to take a "deep dive" into its noise rules, saying it would be in response to complaints about a local bar's music.

But the mayor warned against such a move. He said the complaints about Q Bar, 8109 Cass Ave., began after it started having musicians outdoors because of the pandemic.

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, Alderman Tom Chlystek asked for a City Council committee to review the noise rules. He said he wanted the city to have an ordinance that is easier on residents and police officers.

"We've been going back and forth for months," the alderman said.

Mayor Joseph Marchese had a different take.

"The impression you give is that we have an ordinance that is faulty," the mayor said. "We have a very comprehensive noise ordinance. I like to avoid deep dives into ordinances. We looked into the chicken ordinance. We had a very good reason. We looked at cannabis because we had to."

But years ago, he said, the council had little luck with its review of the rules for RVs and snowmobiles in driveways, saying a lot of people ended up upset.

Alderman Ted Schauer, who was connected to the meeting by telephone, agreed with Marchese. He said the city's changes to the RV and snowmobile rules probably made more people unhappy.

Marchese said the city has only received complaints about Q Bar because the city allowed outdoor dining to help restaurants and bars during the pandemic.

"If there was no COVID, there would be no outdoor music. We saved several businesses with this," Marchese said. "It was a difficult decision for me. I knew it would have a somewhat negative impact on people, but I knew there was an end."

The mayor also said stricter noise rules may affect Hinsdale South football games and DarienFest.

But Chlystek said Downers Grove and Westmont, which he cited as towns with good ordinances, still have football games and other events.

"If you guys don't want a deep dive, that's fine," he said.

Alderman Lester Vaughan supported a review.

"I wouldn't mind since we had so many recent issues with the noise," he said. "It wouldn't hurt to look at it."

Other officials mentioned that much of the talk about Q Bar's noise was on social media. But Chlystek said residents also "got off their rear ends" and spoke about their noise concerns at council meetings.

Aldermen said they needed to review Darien's rules and compare them to other towns. They said they could decide on a review of the rules at a goal-setting session in the fall.

Late last month, Q Bar's manager was cited on charges of disorderly conduct and loud noise after police said they received a complaint about the bar's music from nearly a third of a mile away.

Earlier this summer, the bar's owner, Bob Taft, told Patch he had worked with local police about the noise complaints. He also met with the mayor and other city officials.

The bar's outdoor music is ending this month.

Taft has owned Q Bar for about two decades. Before the pandemic, the bar's music was always indoors.