Shields to investigate new noise bylaw
Councillor Tom Shields announced at the June 20 council meeting that he would be calling a bylaw officer in Victoria to talk about that community's new noise bylaw.
Shields said he hoped to find out some information that would help in the town's own noise bylaw issues.
They repealed their old bylaw of 2003 and have had a new noise bylaw in place since March of 2004, Shields said.
Shields added that the city of Victoria has a similar make-up to this community, which is retirement and tourism.
I would like to get some feedback from them on their changes and how it has worked out.
If there is a noise bylaw that is good and is enforceable, we could give it the appropriate readings so we would have a noise bylaw in place as soon as possible.rnAs it is, there is no noise bylaw in place right now. It's wide open, and that's why the town is appealing [the Rattlesnake Canyon decision].rnWhen Justice Brooke ruled against the Town of Osoyoos in its recent court case with Rattlesnake Canyon, the town's noise bylaw was defeated and, in essence, thrown out altogether.
Not only was the bylaw defeated in the Town of Osoyoos, all other municipalities with similar bylaws are now in danger of being challenged.
Shields pointed out that if the town could get a noise bylaw enacted now, they would have to decide if they wanted to continue with the court appeal that would cost the town a lot of money to pursue.
With a good bylaw in place, tickets and fines would ensue for noise bylaw infractions.
He added that Rattlesnake Canyon did get approval to operate the amusement park and put in the new rides.
If we try to ease the situation for all involved, then I hope we can avoid the protest scenes. As a community, they can be a real image breaker.
