Riot Act Read to Buckhead Bar, Club, Restaurant Owners

As the clock neared 1 p.m., one man had to hustle more chairs into a quickly filling meeting room at the , where the Buckhead Coalition held a meeting Thursday to read the riot act to business owners on obeying liquor, noise and special event laws. One Buckhead attorney suggested clients like his don't feel welcome.

"Recently we've started to get more and more complaints" about nusiances like noise, said Buckhead Coalition President Sam Massell, with the complaints coming from such areas as the lofts on Roswell Road to the St. Regis on West Paces Ferry to Andrews Drive. "So we felt that we had an opportunity or duty or responsibility to get ahead of the game this time."

With that, Massell introduced a panel of six city and law enforcement staff — from Georgia State Patrol to the city health department — and had them all announce the regulations they enforce and regular problems they encounter.

Illegal liquor sales, for one, said Sgt. P. Finch of the That's underage, after-hours and Sunday sales. Capt. Shedrick Gardner from the said the police send him lots of calls about overcrowded spaces.

As many as one in nine weekend drivers are "impaired," said Georgia State Patrol Sgt. J. Cronin. "From my experience it's probably a little higher in Buckhead, Virginia Highlands," and other entertainment zones. The regular day to day ratio is about one in 50.

Massell said bars and restaurants, retailers and residents can all coexist, but first that all laws that are already in place need to be enforced.

But one attorney dissented. "I think that nightclub owners — not so much restaurant owners — have reason to wonder whether or not the Buckhead Coalition really thinks nightclubs have rights," said Alan Begner, who represents The Pool Hall, and has represented other entertainment places.

He said the coalition has advocated rules that would squeeze out nightclubs.

Begner suggested the Buckhead Coalition is using noise as a proxy complaint for what they actually feel are too many nightclubs and too many people.

If a resident is unhappy with noise, Begner suggested the person deal with the club owner him — or herself, perhaps using the Coalition as a facilitator. "There are things we could do," Begner said, "besides turning down the music … If we knew how much we have to turn it down."

Noise citations now depend on an officer's hearing — if the officer can hear noise outside of a certain radius after certain hours, that's a violation.

However, soon the police expect to have decibel meters that make printouts that will stand up in court.

Massell joked that some bar owners and some residents might just as soon get rid  of the other. "But we can coexist," he cooed, adding later, more directly, "The enforcement is going to be put in place if the clubs don’t enforce themselves."

What's next may be crackdowns. Finch promised stings on underage liquor sales soon. Fire inspectors will be patroling.

Massell said the Buckhead Coalition is not out to change any laws, but would support any good proposal it sees. 

The Buckhead Coalition is a group of area civic and business leaders.