Clash over clamour from Parc Jean-Drapeau may soon be resolved

The end may be in sight in the years-long battle between Montreal and Saint-Lambert over the noisy concerts at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

The two sides have agreed to set a cap on how loud concerts can be. The limit would come into effect next summer, Radio-Canada has learned.

In the meantime, the cities and the Socit du parcJean-Drapeau, the group that runs the park, will install machines in Saint-Lambert, Montreal and at the parkthat will measure the decibel levels and help determine what the cap should be.

The mayors of Montreal and Saint-Lambert, on the South Shore, announced in March they were creating a working group to find solutions to the issue. The group came up with this potential solution a few days before festival season begins in earnest.

The conflict over sound levelshas been dragging out since 2014, when Montreal'sVille-Marie borough, which includes le Notre-Dame and le Sainte-Hlne, lifted the fixed noise limits on concerts.

Saint-Lambert has taken the fight to court, suing Montreal and concert promoter Evenko in an attempt to force them to find a solution to the noise problem.

In 2016, Saint-Lambert requested a permanent injunction that would forceMontreal and Evenko to restrictthe noise levelto 95 decibels (dB) at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

New stage still a major sticking point

The city is building a new amphitheatre onle Sainte-Hlne which will hold 65,000 concert goers.

The stage is supposed to face the South Shore, which is still a point of contention between the two sides.

Saint-Lambert Mayor PierreBrodeur, who was elected last fall,wants the stages and speakers reoriented so they face the Montreal side of the island, projecting the noise west.It would cost $10 million to do.

Montreal said it's too late for that, because construction has already started.

Elected officials in Saint-Lambert say as long as the plan stays the same, they won't be dropping the lawsuit against Montreal.

Saint-Lambert residents have complained the noise from the festivals rattles windows, shakes houses and disrupts peaceful summer evenings.

Noise levels of 108 dBhave been recorded at the concert site and a level of 68 dB was recorded at one residence in Saint-Lambert.

The World Health Organization considers noise above 55 dB to be "disturbing to sleep."