City Seeks Public Input Regarding Changes To Noise\Building Bylaws
Whether you are for or against the new proposed changes to the noise and building bylaws the City of Moose Jaw wants to hear your feedback as they have opened up the floor for public consultations on the matter. Residents, businesses and others in the community have until April 11th to submit their concerns and feedback to the City of Moose Jaw.
Under the proposed changes to the Noise Bylaw the City is looking at instituting a decibel level limit to measure noise in residential units which share a common wall or a party wall or the commercial establishment is flush with the residential unit then certain decibel limits must not be exceeded.
The decibel limit proposed in the changes is 70 db(A) from 7 am to 10 pm and from 10 pm to 7 am the decibel limit is 60 db(A). The decibel limit is not tested in the commercial establishment or the source but what is registered in the residential unit.
“….when measured on an approved sound meter for a cumulative period of not more than 15 minutes in any hour, in such dwelling unit, at the point of reception,” the proposed changes to the Noise Bylaw states.
The proposed changes to the Noise Bylaw move away from the former subjective measurement under the existing bylaw where tickets were potentially issued based upon a “unreasonably or unnecessarily loud” measurement to an actual objective measurement made by a sound meter.
There will be additional requirements under the proposed changes to the Building Bylaw including developers of residential units in a Commercial District to soundproof all residential walls which are flush with commercial property within the same building.
As part of the discussion there is also the possibility of applying the same decibel requirements throughout the city as a whole.
The changes to the bylaws have been brought forward following what has been described as a neighbourhood noise dispute on the 0 Block of High Street West.
At Council Mayor Fraser Tolmie has stated the City has seen cultural changes which call for an updating of the existing bylaws. Mayor Tolmie has also stated at Council some of the reaction in the community and on social media was not based upon factual information. Critics however charged the changes have been made out of favourtism. SEE RELATED - Friendly Neighbour Bylaw Boom Boom Bass Complaints
To provide feedback on that or any other aspect of the proposed changes to the Noise Bylaw, the City of Moose Jaw asks that you send written comments/suggestions regarding the proposed amendments until April 11, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. All submissions may be emailed to: planning@moosejaw.ca or sent via regular mail to:
City of Moose Jaw
Dept. of Planning and Development
228 Main St. North
Moose Jaw, SK S6H 3J8