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NORWALK, Conn. Norwalk.DailyVoice.com accepts signed, original letters to the editor. Letters may be emailed to letters@dailyvoice.com.
To the Editor,
One of the challenges of creating mixed-use areas, such as Washington Street in SoNo, is that the neighborly issues such as noise can sometimes get out of hand. With the SoNo Arts Celebration taking over the street, there were outdoor stages that contributed great music to the ambiance of the street. Unfortunately, one of the bars chose to open their doors and flood the street with some excellent DJ music. The unfortunate result was a lot of sound and noise echoing through the street.
Fortunately, Officer Daniel Fitzmaurice, once alerted to the issue, quickly resolved the complaint congratulations to the Norwalk Police Department for responding promptly and in a measured way.
As we build more residential units in our downtowns, the co-operation of all city services can go a long way to keeping things running smoothly. Norwalk has a rich history of hosting large-scale events, and over the years sound complaints have gotten a bit more contentious as the ability of creating powerful soundscapes has become easier and cheaper due to advances in technology. The flip side is that managing soundscapes, including directing sound waves, can keep sounds from escaping from venues.
Norwalkers should embrace the programs and activities that bring visitors and patrons to our city, knowing that solutions to managing conflicts can be successfully mitigated.
Jackie Lightfield is the former chairperson of the Norwalk Zoning Commission and a current board member of Norwalk 2.0.
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