MARGATE – Just days after the start of the new year, residents who live in the vicinity of the Sunrise Tequila Bar, 9700 Ventnor Ave., again brought their concerns to the Board of Commissioners. Even during the off-season, noise, parking and trash continue to be problematic for residents’ quality of life, they said. In June last year, residents said their neighborhood was “taking a beating.”
During the public comment section of the meeting, several residents pleaded with the commissioners to do something to ensure their quality of life.
Solicitor John Scott Abbott said the city is just as frustrated as residents about the issues surrounding the opening of the open air lounge on the second floor of the building. Although the owners, Brian and Dana Hiltner, have attempted to eliminate the issues, problems persist.
Abbott said the Hiltners informed the city that they intend to install permanent double-pane windows around the second floor of the building, which they hope will eliminate some of the noise emanating from the bar during the evening hours.
Resident Liz O’Brien of Monroe Avenue said she and her neighbors have hired an attorney, who sent a letter to the city outlining problems being experienced.
“They are putting in thicker glass windows,” Abbott said. “Our police chief is very much on top of this and believe me, we want this problem resolved too.”
He said the city wants the problems at the Tequila Bar solved before spring, when out-of-town homeowners return for the summer.
“Hopefully, they’ll see the light and straighten their act out,” he said.
O’Brien, who lives just 10 feet away from the commercial property, said the trash overflows and is now attracting animals to the trash enclosure.
“I am directly next door, and do not want animal problems because of somebody else’s trash,” she said.
Police Chief Matthew Hankinson said the department has issued 14 noise summonses, to which the owners pleaded guilty and paid a $1,000 fine for each of them.
She said management lowers the volume on the music when police arrive, but as soon as they leave, the volume is turned up again. Police need to have the power to do more, she said.
“There’s no progress for us,” she said, stating that the residents would continue to attend meetings until things change.
Abbott said the constant complaints are not good for the city, and that it is doing everything it can to address the problems, but there is no specific time frame for getting problems rectified.
Commissioner Maury Blumberg suggested meeting with the owners and their attorney, Eric Goldstein.
When it was Monroe Avenue resident Jeff Hoffner’s turn to speak, he tapped the microphone continually, which drowned out his comments.
“That’s all I hear,” he said about the noise emanating from the audio system. He cannot even sleep with his windows open or sit on his porch. “Something’s got to be done for the quality of life for me.”
Music and noise are constant, he said, including Eagles chants every time they score a touchdown, and DJs loud voice over the music, which goes on till the wee hours of the morning.
Abbott said the owners indicated they plan to install $100,000 worth of permanent windows. Zoning Officer Roger McLarnan said any revisions to the existing site plan would require review and approval of the Planning Board.
According to Goldstein, his clients were informed that the type of acoustic window glass is designed to reduce sound and make it harder for sound to travel through the enclosure.
The cost of the windows is well in excess of $100,000, he said.
"We are all hopeful that the parties in the general vicinity of the establishment want to find a path forward, which will lead to a mutually beneficial co-existence within a small area of a few blocks," Goldstein said Monday afternoon. "Building good neighbor relationships requires ongoing effort and consideration, and the owners and management of the establishment are mindful of the neighbors’ concerns and wish to avoid the disagreements or issues with the neighboring property owners that may have been more prevalent in the past."
Resident Maryanne Klemer said the parking situation in her neighborhood about a block away is horrendous, and she would like to see the city issue parking permits for residents like they do in Ventnor.
As with most commercial applications that come before the Planning Board, the Sunrise Tequila Bar was granted a variance to deviate from the required number of commercial parking spaces required, McLarnon said.
“Commercial parking is scarce as we all know throughout town,” Collins said. “It’s virtually impossible for these businesses to operate under the parking requirements.”
Collins said variances are typically not issued for residential applications, however.
“We do recognize when we meet that parking is a problem throughout the entire town and we are looking for ways to resolve that and make it better for all the residents,” Collins said.
Resident Aaron Singer said the neighborhood lost two on-street parking spaces to reserve space for ride-share companies to drop off and pick up bar patrons.
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