Quiet Zones Proposed for West Chester - Fox 2 News Headlines

It's a perennial problem. Noisy college students keeping the town up at night. Now the Borough of West Chester is trying to find a way to keep the peace.

Quiet Zones. The Borough Council voted to establish quiet zones in the residential areas around West Chester University.

"It is West Chester, we are a party school" said one student.

West Chester resident Laura Chatelle says it's about time something was done about the late night noise especially on weekends.

"It gets pretty rowdy" said Chatelle who runs a group home for elderly residents.

"They're just yelling at each other or to each other and cursing. Sometimes you just can't sleep because there is too much noise" she said.

About 60 streets in West Chester will soon be getting new street signs that will warn residents about the noise restrictions from 9pm to 7am. Fines start at $250.

The proposal was in response to a record number of noise and disorderly conduct citations written in 2012.

"I think it will be an improvement and it will be proper notice that we take our quality of life issues seriously"' said Borough Councilman Jordan Norley who proposed the plan.

Officials say the problem isn't with the bars themselves but when patrons leave those bars at the end of the night and filter through the streets.

But will signs help?

If it's just a sign that says be quiet. I don't know if it will work." said West Chester freshman Laura Massuto.

A formal vote to approve the plan will be taken on Wednesday. Once approved the signs will start being installed over the next couple months.