Sud-Ouest bars forced to close terraces early because of noise complaints

SAINT-HENRI – Residents in Montreal’s Sud-Ouest borough want some peace and quiet, claiming they’ve been losing sleep over increasing noise in the neighbourhood.

“It’s incredibly noisy because of all the traffic,” said Little Burgundy resident Marie Laroche.

“The buses are necessary, but not all these cars.”

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The borough’s council is trying to cut down on the level of noise from terraces and truck traffic.

READ MORE: Sud-Ouest borough to spend $25,000 on effort to clean up dog poop

“We hear lots of stories about all kinds of noise and how residents aren’t able to sleep,” said Councillor Craig Sauvé.

“If you can’t sleep, you can’t concentrate in the day, you eat more poorly and it’s a downward spiral.”

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Council voted in a new bylaw banning trucks from making deliveries between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

They’ve also restricted the hours terraces are allowed to stay open, forcing them to close at 11 p.m., instead of at midnight on weekends.

“I don’t think it’s a huge difference,” said Sauvé.

“It’s just normalizing so that it’s all the time at 11 p.m., whereas it used to be at 12 a.m. on weekends.”

The borough told Global News it doesn’t want to hurt local businesses, but it speaks volumes when residents complain.

READ MORE: Sud-Ouest wants Montreal to roll out a bike lane on Guy Street

Nevertheless, local bars insist if they have to close their terraces early, that means they’re going to lose business.

“Most Montrealers don’t go out until 10-10:30 p.m.,” said Lord William Pub owner Joe Pilotte, arguing terraces are a huge draw for Montrealers.

“Everyone wants to be on the terraces always, so for sure it will hurt.”

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Signs have been posted around the borough warning patrons to stay quiet in residential areas – or they could face fines.

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Pilotte said while he doesn’t like the new bylaws, he understands that keeping the peace is the most important.

“Your neighbours are who you want as clients, so it’s a Catch 22,” he told Global News.

“You want to have the terraces open until 3 a.m., but you don’t want to be upsetting everyone who surrounds you.”

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Restrictions could be in effect as early as next week.