In a recent effort to address community concerns regarding noise levels, the City of Colorado Springs has brokered a deal with VENU, the proprietors of the Ford Amphitheater. Announcing the agreement, Mayor Yemi elaborated on a comprehensive sound mitigation plan designed to temper the auditory impact of the venue on the surrounding areas. According to the City of Colorado Springs, the plan includes the establishment of a sound mitigation and monitoring agreement which involves stricter oversight, reporting requirements, and a limited noise hardship permit for the upcoming 2025 season.
In addition to existing measures, the deal requires VENU to install new sound barriers and erect five sound monitoring stations around the venue. As per the city's latest release, three extra stations will be set up, approved by the City upon consultation with sound professionals. Found inside or adjacent to neighborhoods troubled by the noise, these will listen for any breach of the ambient noise baseline set by the City Code at 50 dB(A). "If baseline ambient noise measurements exceed City Code levels of 50 dB(A) at these locations, the amphitheater must stay below the measured ambient noise," the mayor's office stated, as per the City of Colorado Springs.
Should the monitoring stations record noise levels of more than 6 dB(A) over the limit, VENU will find themselves footing a $500 penalty for each infraction and will be compelled to devise a strategy to further stifle the disturbance. Mayor Yemi, in his address obtained by the City of Colorado Springs, expressed gratitude towards VENU for cooperating with concerned residents, acknowledging that, "To residents who have had their quality of life impacted and wanted change to the noise hardship permit and additional mitigation, we hear you." The agreement stipulates that the new mitigation must be completed within the year.
