Sounds of happiness

Council decides restrictions to noise bylaw needs more study.

The council chambers gallery at Shire Hall was filled by folks who make a living from weddings and music events in Prince Edward County. For many it was their first experience with local government. They had come to persuade council to reconsider its plan to restrict amplified music from reaching neighbours to 11 p.m. from the 2 a.m. limit currently.

Council was already backpedalling before the first presenter began to speak.

It had made a rash decision in August— with no consultation or measure of the impact such a decision would have on the County economy. In the days between the committee’s decision and the council meeting necessary to ratify the revision to the noise bylaw, council members had heard plenty from the community. Much of it was negative.

And so it continued at the council meeting last Tuesday.

Mark Henry of Fields on West Lake recited a long list of achievements and contributions his facility, owned and operated with Lynne Ellis, had accumulated over the past decade.

He explained that the facility was subject to 11 building permits when the massive barn was adapted in 2004 for use as a theatre—a standard that is much more rigorous than a banquet facility. He recounted noise studies, sound monitoring technology purchases and practices employed to ensure compliance with the County’s bylaw.

“We shut down the music at 1 p.m. and it is silent at 2,” said Henry. “No exceptions.”

He noted that his venue and others in the County compete with wedding destinations around the world. Despite these options, Prince Edward County is increasingly the preferred choice for young couples.

Henry expressed concern at the lack of notice regarding the proposed change to the bylaw, noting that he had only learned of the proposed change affecting his business in The Times.

He returned to the tools and methods Fields on West Lake follows to manage sound.

“We take the issue of sound very seriously,” said Henry.

Athol councillor Jamie Forrester was the driver of a tighter noise bylaw. But on Tuesday he was striking more conciliatory tone. He said he wasn’t trying to shut events or businesses down—just to move them indoors.

“As long as you conduct your business as in a way that doesn’t affect other people,” said Forrester.

Shawn Thomas Creamer is a co-owner of the Hayloft Dancehall in Forrester’s ward.

Creamer said the proposed change would “impede our ability to operate.”

He said they had come here and invested their life savings in a special place. He added that he believed what they were doing fit perfectly with the goals of the strategic plan.

“We have worked hard to transform the Hayloft from what it was to become a destination for touring and local music groups.”

He added that since acquiring the facility he and his partners have installed an acoustic sound dampening wall behind the bandstage and plan to extend it this fall. He pointed to the shuttle bus that brings Hayloft goers to and from the venue—greatly minimizing the risk of drinking and driving.

Creamer said the proposed restrictions would deter a wide variety of events and music acts from visiting the County and discourage other investment.

“Weddings, parties and music events produce the sounds of happiness,” said Creamer. “If the County becomes known as the place where sound is punishable, people will go elsewhere. This is not in the interest of the County’s economic future.”

Council members couldn’t get their hands up fast enough to agree that the Hayloft had made great strides in conforming to the needs of the community and to the vitality of the County’s economy.

“You’ve done an amazing job,” said Forrester. “I, too, like to have fun. My concern is that if your neighbours don’t like rock music what are they to do? Do you have any suggestions? There has to be a balance.”

Creamer said he would be happy to sit down in the slow months, but springing a major change to the way he and others do business in the height of August was a poor way to elicit participation in the debate.

Mayor Robert Quaiff noted that as a member of the Police Services Board over the past few years, the change in ownership of the Hayloft has been a dramatic improvement.

“The difference is night and day since you opened,” said Quaiff. “You seem to have the ability to look at the issues and solve them.”

Wedding planners Dawn Straface and Sonya Szabo from Ephra Events told council the proposed noise restrictions coupled with the proposed special events bylaw would destroy the wedding business in the County.

“This is my fulltime job,” said Straface. “I grew up here. I’m glad and excited to be back. But I am worried about what these proposed new regulations will do.”

Councillor Gord Fox said the proposed bylaw should go back to the drawing board.

“There are a lot of things we haven’t considered,” said Fox. “We need to stop and think about this. When questions come up let’s work on a solution, not shut down businesses.”

All councillors appeared happy to send it back to staff for review.