Summerville is a lakeshore community in the Midwest. In its heyday, the town relied heavily on the automotive industry for its tax base and jobs for its residents. As the
automotive industry declined, many of the local manufacturing plants closed, leaving
high rates of unemployment and a devastated tax base in its wake. Community leaders have tried to capitalize on Summerville’s location on the shore of Lake Michigan to
rebuild the community around tourism. In the process, they have tried to be business friendly, offering incentives and generally trying to accommodate the needs of busi-
nesses. Recently, an increasing number of bars and restaurants have applied for a license
that allows them to provide outdoor food and beverage service on decks, patios, and
rooftops. City officials have been supportive of the efforts to draw more tourists to the
community. Many of these establishments border residential areas and offer live enter-
tainment several nights per week. Alongtime city ordinance states that music must not
be heard from more than 50 feet away between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Periodically,
residents call the police to complain about the noise