Stony Creek Brewery, Citizen Group 'Turn It Down' Settle Differences

BRANFORD, CT — Stony Creek Brewery and a 'Turn It Down,' a group of neighbors and other residents organized in 2022 to protest loud music events at the pub, have settled their differences. The move came on the eve of the two appearing before the Liquor Control Commission in a 'remonstrance' process hearing.

"We reached a settlement agreement with them today," organizer John Hartwell wrote in an email forwarded to Patch Wednesday. "As is usually the case, both sides had to compromise, but I honestly think we can celebrate what we've achieved."

Brewery owner Ed Crowley Jr. emailed Patch a statement that noted Stony Creek was "pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with our neighbors to continue our concert series."

The terms of the agreement, per Hartwell are:

• limits the Brewery to a maximum of four "concerts" per year
• obligates them to abide by state and local noise regulations
• requires them to pay for and give us professional noise monitoring reports for each concert

In the fall of 2022, 'Turn It Down!' created a petition that demanded that the town stop issuing permits for Stony Creek Brewery to hold "loud music" events. Since, there have been countless meetings with town officials, police, appearances before town boards, correspondence, and negotiation.

Hartwell said that the agreement has the brewery recognizing "us as legitimate representatives of the neighborhood with an agreement that will run for three years."

"We'll have annual meetings with the First Selectman to review how it's going, and of course we will be able to let the Brewery know our displeasure if they exceed the current noise limitations and have some rights to enforce the agreement," Hartwell wrote in an email.

In his statement, Crowley focused on the agreement as "a great opportunity to showcase our wonderful waterfront town and all it has to offer."

He said that the now-permitted, albeit limited, "upcoming concert series will bring guests from New England and beyond to Branford, giving an economic boost to our restaurants and shops."

"This process has worked out well for both parties, and we appreciate the cooperation of our neighbors," he wrote. Adding that, the longtime, popular roots reggae band Steel Pulse is set to person in August.

Hartwell wrote that the agreement "hopefully" means "we can put this all behind us, but if problems arise, please know we haven't gone away."

Original story, Dec. 13, 2022

BRANFORD, CT — A group of Branford residents calling themselves, 'Turn It Down!,' created a petition they say has been signed by more than 125 people demanding that the town stop issuing permits for Stony Creek Brewery to hold "loud music" events.

Though one neighbor of the wildly popular brewery has chronicled what she claims are noise issues emanating from the venue since 2016, the impetus for the petition was an Oct. 3 concert held at the brewery featuring the nationally-known band Disco Biscuits.

The online petition can be found here.

After Patch reached out to police, and the brewery on the matter, founder Ed Crowley said that Stony Creek Brewery is "contacting the ‘Turn It Down’ group to open a dialogue about events at the brewery in the hope that we can identify accommodations to address their concerns."

'Turn It Down' contacted Patch last weekend and shared its petition, a log compiled by a neighbor, a copy of the town's noise ordinance, and other materials in support of its call to have the venue stop playing loud music, which it claims has upset neighbors.

Calling itself a newly formed grassroots group, it is presenting its petition to the Board of Selectmen at its 5 p.m. special meeting Wednesday.

“The brewery was never intended to be a rock concert venue,” said Pat Dugan, a Harding Avenue resident who co-founded Turn It Down! “We need respect for the rights of the people who actually live here.”

Dugan's sentiment was echoed by group co-founder John Hartwell.

“We’re asking that the existing Branford noise ordinance be enforced," he said.

Hartwell explained: “This situation has been getting worse and worse since 2016. The facts are clear. Enough is enough. Turn It Down! came together after an over-the-top rock concert on Monday, October 3rd, attended by more than a thousand people, resulting in more than thirty calls to the Branford Police from outraged residents. Callers who complained were told 'they have a permit' and 'talk to Town Hall in the morning.' The music continued until 10:00 pm, disturbing many local households with small children, and adults who had to work in the morning. Following the concert, Dugan launched a petition to “Deny permits to loud music events at the Stony Creek Brewery.”

The group said it reviewed the existing town noise ordinance, "researched the negative impact of noise levels above those that are allowed," and met with Branford Police Chief Jon Mulhern.

"The Chief said that enforcing the ordinance was difficult, which led to the decision to go to the Board of Selectmen. While most of Turn It Down!’s petition signatures were from people who live close to the brewery, the volume from the band was loud enough to bring complaints from people as far away as Short Beach and East Main Street," the group's statement to Patch reads.

Patch contacted Branford Police Deputy Chief John Alves, the department's spokesperson, who confirmed that police did receive around 30 calls on the night of the Disco Biscuits concert. He said that the brewery has always been in compliance with the town and its noise ordinance. But the matter is being looked into.

"This show was held on a weeknight late in the year compared to summer events, which may have been a driving factor behind the increase in calls," he said. "The brewery is permitted by the town to operate as a venue which provides live music, being adjacent to a residential area complaints have been received especially during their larger outdoor shows."

Brewery founder Crowley explained what led to the concert being scheduled on a Monday night.

"We acknowledge that the music performance at the brewery on October 3rd caused stress and hardship for some of our fellow Branford residents due to a number of circumstances outside our control. This event was scheduled to occur in early September, but had to be rescheduled due to a family illness of a performer," Crowley said. "As a result of scheduling commitments, the event had to be rescheduled to later in the year on a Monday night, which is not when we would typically host such an event. In addition, we believe the weather the day of the event contributed to the sound traveling more than usual."

Alves noted that given the "high number of complaints regarding the Oct. 3rd show in particular, we have engaged with the Town attorney regarding (the) legality of the noise ordinance, permitted exceptions to the ordinance and delegated responsibility for legal enforcement of the ordinance."

"It’s important to know, that we have monitored some of the larger outdoor shows in the past from adjacent streets to the brewery and found the sound was in compliance with the noise ordinance," he said. Alves added that police are both "committed to the health and well-being of our residents" and to "working with ownership of the brewery to facilitate a successful business model which we value in town."

And Crowley said Stony Creek Brewery is "committed to making a positive impact in the community of Branford."

"We believe that live music events are important and valuable to the community and wish to work with our neighbors to ensure that these events continue to enjoy success and support in the future," he said.

Patch reached out to Branford First Selectman James Cosgrove for comment via email, but did not hear back.