Lakecroft

Noise top of mind for neighbours of proposed event venue

A high-end event venue, complete with five suites, nine glamping tents and a three-bedroom cottage could soon be lining the shore of East Lake in Cherry Valley.

At last week’s Planning meeting, Council heard of the proposed construction of a 100- person event venue for the first time. The waterfront property is located at 4 County Road 18 and 89 Sandy Lane in Cherry Valley. The subject property would need an Official Plan amendment and zoning bylaw amendment to move forward.

Jessica D’Aoust, with Arcadis Professional Services Inc., led the committee through a short presentation.

For the past 50 years, the site was operated as a campground and cottage rental business— accommodating over 40 tents and trailers. The property was purchased by the current owners in 2019, with a vision to host weddings and corporate retreats.

The proposed development, touted as low impact, would see 15 short-term rental units for 44 guests. The existing building will also house five suites.

“There will be a reduced overall footprint of the operations and the owners are transitioning the business to overall uses while also improving site conditions, including shoreline clean-up, planting of over 400 native species along the shoreline, elimination of the trailers, and the removal of three cottages,” said D’Aoust.

Kathleen White lives near the property, and was worried about noise levels that an event venue could bring with it.

“Last summer it was terrible, and if there are 16 weekends where you have to sit out there on a Friday and Saturday night, and each one of them has music banging, it’s not conducive to a neighbourhood,” she said.

White then noted said she doesn’t have a problem with the accommodations.

“I’ve been there for seven years and I never knew there was a trailer park there, or anything back there, and last summer it was like, wow, what’s going on,” she said.

Dr. Steven Blanchard talked about how the previous trailer park fit in with the community, but the noise he and his wife also had to live with last summer was noticeable.

“We didn’t hear a peep out of them, and until the last two years, it was dead quiet,” said Blanchard, noting that he could support the glamping and accommodations, but not the event venue.

“Despite the lack of the correct zoning for an event venue, they have been hosting wedding parties with loud amplified music into the night for the past several summers. Even if closing the windows and turning on the air conditioner did block the noise, the community should absolutely not be put in the position of being forced to do this on a regular basis, to not be disturbed,” said Blanchard.

He then noted that the owners regularly disobey the 11 p.m. noise bylaw, and worried about how late functions might go until.

“Loud partying music is certainly not conducive to getting a good night’s sleep. I strongly encourage you, for the peace and quiet of Cherry Valley, and for the reasons stated, not to allow the applicant to host parties with amplified music in Cherry Valley.”

D’Aoust noted that the establishment had been hosting events out a temporary tent, and the newest version would see a purpose-built building. “This will, of course, significantly reduce any potential noise impacts of the proposed use,” she said.

Councillor Roy Pennell worried about the number of possible events and the disruption to the neighbourhood.

“If you are running a business, I would imagine you’d be looking at every day you could get during the summer months,” said Pennell.

D’Aoust said the intent is to only operate on weekends. “To start off, at least to only have events held on weekends, on an as needed and on-demand basis, but I don’t have specific numbers,” she said.

Local ward councillor Sam Branderhorst said the noise had been a problem for the last two years, and noted the amount of calls and emails she receives about the property. She then looked for a compromise.

“No events would be my personal recommendation for the community, and that is my recommendation to staff, that fits a hamlet a little bit better,” said Branderhorst.

As this meeting was for information and input only, the file will be back in front of the committee at a future meeting. All planning documents related to this application can be found on the County’s website.