An overflow crowd packed Loveland City Hall on Tuesday, July 14, filling the council chamber and hallways as business owners, musicians, and residents turned out to weigh in on the future of live outdoor music in Historic Downtown.

No vote was taken. But the standing-room-only turnout showed the intensity of feeling on both sides of a debate over whether to tighten the city's noise ordinance.

During the Open Forum portion of the meeting, speakers addressed the council about live music in the downtown district and the need for clarity in the city's noise regulations, according to the City of Loveland's official recap posted to Facebook on Saturday, July 18.

How the debate built

The conflict has been building since at least early June. Resident Randy Campion told council members on Tuesday, June 9, that he was there "to talk to you about the excessive, loud noise that's coming out of the bars downtown." Sharon Scovanner, a resident who lives near the entertainment district, addressed the Law and Ordinance Committee on June 3, and later told WCPO 9 that outdoor music has "really ramped up" over the past four years as more establishments added live performances.

The committee met again on June 22, to review the city's existing regulations and discuss possible changes, according to Loveland Daily News.

Loveland's current ordinance prohibits unreasonable amplified sound likely to cause inconvenience or annoyance. In residentially zoned areas, sound is considered a violation if audible more than 80 feet beyond the property line. Penalties escalate after a warning, and city-approved events are exempt.

City manager says rewrite is coming

City Manager Dave Kennedy told WCPO 9 in a July 8 story that the ordinance "needs to be rewritten, and council recognizes that." He said the committee is comparing Loveland's rules with what other cities, including Milford, have implemented.

Kennedy said the goal is to write a document that gives residents peace on their property while still allowing business owners to do what's important to them.

Ben Capodagli, owner of Cappy's Wine and Spirits, spoke at the July 14 meeting and has been one of the most vocal business owners in the debate. In a July 8 interview with WCPO 9, Capodagli said downtown venues have been encouraged to bring entertainment to the district over the past eight to 10 years.

"I do think there's a way to work this out that we can all have a great town and not turn this into the movie Footloose," Capodagli told the station.

The day after the council meeting, Cappy's posted on Instagram that it would continue attending council and committee meetings as the review moves forward, calling for an ordinance that provides "clarity and consistency for residents, businesses, and the police officers tasked with enforcing it."

What happens next

The Law and Ordinance Committee must complete its review before bringing any recommendations to the full council. No specific amendment language, decibel limits, or time-of-day cutoffs have been released publicly. The next Loveland City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, though it remains unclear whether the noise ordinance will appear on that agenda.