Athens City Council adopted changes to the city’s noise ordinance that will make businesses and home owners responsible for finding ways to reduce their noise after a first conviction.

The noise ordinance will now include limits on vocal noise and an increased decibel limit for all noise, from 55 decibels to 85 decibels.

The changes derive from constituent complaints about noise from Broney’s Alumni Grill, 7 W Carpenter St., and from loud air compressor units at locations such as East Elementary School, 3 Wallace Dr., said councilwoman Nancy Bain, D-3rd Ward.

Carol Patterson was the only council member to vote against the changes, citing concerns for the ways that reasonable levels of noise echo in Athens and are audible from beyond a 50-foot limit.

Property owners previously convicted of a noise violation could be convicted of a minor misdemeanor for the second violation if no measures were taken to lower the noise by building noise baffles. Under the language written, the owner of a private residence who is throwing a party may be subject to this part of the rule, not just a business owner, Bain said.

“The purpose is to give everyone a chance to enjoy their property,” Bain Said.

Council also approved the final plans for another section of condominiums in University Estates, 9220 state Route 682. The first phase of construction on Grande Vista Village will include 10 four-unit condominiums and a club house, which features a pool and meeting areas, said Lantz Repp, senior vice president of University Estates. The condominiums will be part of a gated—although not fenced-in—community with access to the bike path that runs through all of University Estates, Repp said.

In other council news, citizens concerned about pedestrian safety at the Richland Avenue and state Route 682 intersection after the death of an Ohio University graduate student, Abhishek Singh, approached council with ideas for immediate pedestrian safety changes.

Although city officials said that it would take two years for any real traffic changes to occur, Kellen Murphy, one of Singh’s coworkers, presented recommendations for more immediate changes, including rumble strips and flashing lights to warn drivers of the approaching intersection.

Murphy and other supporters also had a petition signed by 341 Athens residents to show support for their goals.