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Changes to the City’s proposed sound rules in the downtown will come before the Asbury Park Planning Board 5 p.m. May 24, officials said Monday night.

The special meeting, being held in lieu of the Board’s June 6 meeting, is an attempt to fast track changes to an existing law that has stopped the music in downtown venues.

Current laws call for the submission a sound engineer’s report [at a cost of $1,525] or turn the music off. Businesses face up to $2,000 per day fine if they do not adhere.

While some, like The Complex and Asbury Ale House, have opted to submit the report, others like Cookman Avenue’s Toast have decided against it.

The special meeting is being held to fast track the administrative process, Mayor John Moor has said.

“We found a mistake and we are working to fix it as soon as possible,” Moor has said.

The changes, put forth by the city’s Director of Planning and Redevelopment Michele Alonso, call for the elimination of the sound engineer’s report and outlines requirements.

Businesses will still be required to adhere existing sound level laws but new businesses that plan on changing more than 50 percent of an existing footprint will be required to install insulation in the walls and ceiling to mitigate the sound from permeating through to adjacent homes in the mixed use buildings.

The Planning Board will vet the proposed changes to ensure they are consistent with the city’s master plan and return their comments to City Council for a final vote.

That vote requires the introduction and a separate final vote after public comment and questions [a two meeting process that takes a month].

Until the final City Council vote [expected to occur on June 15], the existing law remains in place.

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