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Plans to change sound mitigation rules in the downtown were placed on the fast track Wednesday night.

The City Council voted to advance proposed changes to Planning Board and added an amendment that asked for a special meeting so that the measure could be vetted as quickly as possible.

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

While the proposed changes eliminate the need for a sound engineer’s report [at an estimated cost of $1525], it still requires all businesses adhere to existing sound level laws.

If approved it will require any new businesses, planning a more than 50 percent overhaul of an existing space, place insulation in the walls and ceiling, according to Michele Alonso, Asbury Park’s Director of Planning and Redevelopment.

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 occurs, the existing law that requires downtown businesses provide the report or turn the music off remains in place.

Asbury Ale House [at right] owners Frank and Chris Gullace said they have turned up the volume on their televisions in replacement of music.

“We are thrilled that they agreed to allow music, it’s what Asbury is about,” Chris Gullace said. “Every bar has some sort of music in some form.”

The brothers say they placed insulation in the walls when they revamped the Cookman Avenue space that was formerly occupied by Old Man Rafferty’s restaurant. They are working with their landlord to have insulation placed in the ceiling and will submit the sound engineer’s report.

“We don’t want to bother anybody,” Frank Gullace said. “We are cooperating fully with the town.”

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