By Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
After seemingly unending debate, the regional district’s Noise Control Bylaw has received three readings.
You could almost hear the collective sighs of relief on Sept. 22 when the board finally ushered the bylaw closer to adoption.
The new regulation is a consolidation of a number of bylaws in the region impacting electoral areas C, D, E, F and I. But not rural Osoyoos since it does not have a noise bylaw.
Chief Administrative Officer Bill Newell said the new bylaw sets out more objective criteria with the use of decibel readings via meters that officers will use to measure sound.
Planning manager Chris Garrish said various construction activities in Penticton vary between 55 and 85 decibels. He noted that discussions with Penticton Speedway have resulted in the proposed maximum decibel level for motorsport facilities to increase from 95 to 98 dBA.
Regional director Riley Gettens said she supported the bylaw because it removes the subjectivity of it all.
Regional director Subrina Monteith said residents need some model for themselves to measure noise to guide them before potential complaints are made. She noted they don’t want to set themselves up for confrontations with neighbours.
Monteith asked if enforcement action is based on one or two complaints, and what is the repercussion for repeat offenders?
Garrish said residents can use their phones (via an app) as a guide to measure sound, but regional staff won’t rely on that for determining actual contraventions. They will rely on their own tools.
Area D director Rick Knodel said the addition of decibel meters doesn’t change the process, but he suspects staff will have to institute a permitting system for some noise. He noted there likely will be a degree of subjectivity where necessary.
Garrish said there are two ways to measure sound: they can take the reading from the complainant’s property or take it two metres from the offender’s property line. He noted the most common method moving forward will be determined as time goes on.
