At least one politician is breaking his silence over noise regulations in rural areas.
Regional District of North Okanagan staff will review the noise and special events bylaw and provide a report on any possible amendments.
“We don’t have a clear bylaw in terms of noise,” said director Mike Macnabb of the need for the review.
“Perhaps we should come in line with other jurisdictions.”
Primarily, Macnabb says the bylaw doesn’t have any set decibel ratings for what may be appropriate.
“With noise, there isn’t any threshold,” said Macnabb.
“Look at the Vancouver bylaw and they have (decibel) limits.”
The current RDNO regulations date back to 1970 and 1990.
The decision to initiate the review was triggered by the recent Wild Salmon Music Festival in rural Lumby seeking approval for a sound amplification system.
It was anticipated that the event could be in excess of the noise bylaw, but RDNO staff gave approval for the public address system to be used.
“Staff has concluded that the request is in keeping with past staff operational procedure approvals,” said John Friesen, bylaw enforcement officer, in a written report to the RDNO board.
“(Applicant) Randy Rauck has provided adequate evidence of notification to neighbourhood property owners and dwelling occupiers through a petition process. All but one of the recorded and received responses submitted to staff, to this date, have shown neighbouring residents to be in favour and in support of the event.”
Friesen says there were no complaints received about the festival, which ran from July 22 to 24 on Mabel Lake Road.
