Coldstream To Get New Sound Measuring Equipment

The District of Coldstream is moving ahead with plans to update its noise bylaw.

Staff have been directed to purchase a piece of equipment to measure sound.

Mayor Jim Garlick says it would record noise and print out results.

“We have three zones. One is quiet. One is intermediate. One is active. Depending on if it’s industrial, commercial or residential. Then what those decibels would be between those zones”

It would be set up like a matrix to see what the noise would be going from one zone into another.

“It’s a little more complex than what we had in the past. It also gives tools to say, you know what, this isn’t so bad – the noise, or you know what, this is over by a certain amount, let’s see what we can do to mitigate it.”

Garlick also says it’s not a matter of going out to prowl neighbourhoods.

“For example, there’s the party on the street. You don’t need to send someone out testing for that when it’s one in the morning and they’re playing loud music for the RCMP to issue a ticket, because it’s obvious.”

Garlick hopes to have some results back by the beginning of September.