Oaks Noise Issue Quelled

A local establishment causing neighbors in Oaks to miss out on sleep on the weekends has quieted down, Assistant Township Manager Lee Milligan reported Monday.

At the Upper Providence Board of Supervisors meeting, Milligan gave the board a status report on an issue that’s cropped up since mid-December. Residents near the Perkiomen Café, located on Brower Avenue, issued complaints about live entertainment at the bar, which sits in a residential neighborhood. For the last two years, the bar hosted bands on Fridays and Saturdays until 1:30 a.m.

Milligan said township officials and the police chief set up a Jan. 14 meeting with the operating partners and the manager. The manager got the time wrong and missed the meeting, but the operating partners were present, Milligan explained.

“They were unaware of some of the ongoing issues,” Milligan said. “They expressed a genuine desire to be good neighbors and work to solve this, and to that end, they have canceled all entertainment going on at that location.”

No residents commented at Monday’s meeting. According to Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board licensing documents, Michael Radliff, Meredith Radliff, Lynn Radliff and Kathleen Keller are listed as stockholders and directors of the Perkiomen Café, while Josh Dragoo is on the license as a manager and stockholder.

Milligan said management at the bar also erected a sound barrier on the porch to help quiet noise from patrons, as well.

“The police were trying to be fair with their application of our ordinances with these people, but they made it very clear at this meeting that it was considered fair warning and future violations would result in citations,” Milligan said.

The township noise ordinance specifically addresses musical instruments and says they shouldn't be clearly heard between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. within 50 feet. The penalty for violations is a summary offense, which involves going before the district magistrate, and, if found guilty, up to a $25 fine.