New noise bylaw takes effect after year of discussion

New noise bylaw takes effect after year of discussion

News

Bradford West Gwillimbury finally has a new noise bylaw.

After more than a year of public meetings and recommendations, town council passed the bylaw unanimously.

Some of the bylaw’s highlights include:

— the operation of a radio, television, stereo or other electronic device, including any amplification device, musical or other sound producing instrument, is prohibited between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m. in all sectors of the municipality;
— do-it-yourselfers will have to pack up their hammers, saws, nail guns, staple guns or drills by 9 p.m. and wait until 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, or until 9 a.m. on weekends, to get back to work (the same restrictions are in place for people who wish to mow their lawns or trim their hedges).

Businesses are not exempt.

“Any sound or vibration from any industrial uses located within the industrial zone will be exempt, provided that such noise or vibration is in compliance with that business’ valid Certificate of Approval, as issued by the Ministry of the Environment,” according to the bylaw.

Trails committee

The members of the town’s newly created trails committee are encouraged to be creative and use their skills and imaginations to think long-term while they envision the ideal trail system for Bradford West Gwillimbury.

The trails committee, which consists of Mayor Doug White, Ward 4 Councillor Mark Contois and residents Gerry Guay, Lorri Jackson, Craig McLaughlin and Anita Snow, held its first meeting last month.

The mandate of the committee is as follows:

— map the existing trails within the municipality;
— plan an interconnected network of trails within the town by creating new trails and connecting existing ones, where possible;
— publish a local trails brochure, with maps;
— promote use of the trails;
— work with the county and other trail organizations to promote the interconnectivity of surrounding trails with local ones;
— sponsor trail days to encourage trail use.

All content contained in this or any other yorkregion.com website including but not limited to textual, audio, video and any graphics are copyright 2000-2008 Metroland Media Group Ltd. and can not be used in any part without expressed written permission, with the exception of content in the yorkregion.com Pen & Pixel section, which requires the written consent of the authors.