St. Pete Beach officials announced Monday that The Luce hotel, the former Postcard Inn, has met the city’s nighttime noise standards, bringing a long‑running dispute with neighboring residents to a close.

Background

The 200‑room property, which reopened in June as part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio, faced complaints from owners of the adjacent Silver Sands condominium complex. Residents said the rooftop air‑conditioning unit generated enough sound to disturb sleep and even mask the sound of coffee on a balcony.

Testing and Findings

Special Magistrate Erica Augello reviewed noise measurements taken on Oct. 28 from the condominium units. The city’s code‑enforcement officer, Ayako Ruckdeschel, confirmed that the latest readings showed no violations of the 55‑decibel nighttime limit. The magistrate assessed $335 in administrative costs and declared the hotel in compliance.

Hotel’s Efforts

Hotel attorney Kevin Reali explained that the issue stemmed from improperly calibrated software controlling fan speeds. Adjustments reduced noise levels by 10 to 13 decibels, and the hotel also installed sound‑dampening blankets around the equipment. Earlier attempts, including a custom‑engineered damper that could have cost six figures, were set aside after the software fix proved effective.

Resident Concerns

Despite the October results, some residents noted that earlier measurements in September still exceeded limits, with variations of up to 20 decibels recorded within minutes. Reali requested independent testing to verify the city’s readings before committing to further costly modifications.

Conclusion

With the city’s acceptance of an independent sound study submitted by the hotel and the magistrate’s ruling, the case is now closed. Reali expressed relief, saying the hotel is “very happy to finally be at the end of this one.”

Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.