TABC watches noise at Nutty Brown

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Loud noise complaints could close the Nutty Brown Cafe in Hays County. Neighbors have taken their beef with the popular live music venue all the way to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

While they investigate, the TABC is withholding a new liquor license for the venue on US 290, west of Austin.

Back in June, a neighbor filed a citizen's protest with the TABC and in August, another person filed a noise complaint. Owner Mike Farr said he has a temporary permit to sell alcohol since his liquor license expired September 5.

The TABC will not renew it until their investigation into the noise complaints is complete.

"I want to be a good neighbor," said Farr. "You'd think we were out here just indifferent and nothing could be further from the truth. I mean, I live out here."

Noise complaints are nothing new for the Nutty Brown Cafe since neighborhoods began sprouting up nearby. In 2006, the venue built an outdoor stage, which attracts big name acts.

But Farr said he continues to keep the noise level below the 85 decibels allowed by law.

"We actually did some soundchecks and I thought, that's a little bit loud and rather than doing what I can do legally, I'd rather do something that shows how serious we are about being good neighbors."

Kim Swift leaves in the nearby Belterra neighborhood and said her family enjoys the live music.

"Some of the evenings we step on our porch and we have our wine- my husband has his beer and we can hear the music from our own backyard so we're very pleased with that," said Swift.

Hays County Sheriffs Deputies have responded to Nutty Brown dozens of times but have not found the venue in violation of the noise ordinance. The TABC will determine if there are legal grounds for someone to protest the noise levels and will hold a hearing to decide if they will renew the venue's liquor license.