Coldstream Puts Lid On Noise

Apr 29, 2019 | 6:00 AM

Coldstream is trying to determine what constitutes unacceptable noise levels.

As part of an update of its noise bylaw, the District has tested decibel levels at 11 sites.

“It started last year, that the actual samples were taken,” says Mayor Jim Garlick.

Garlick calls it a work in progress, and any enforcement would be educational rather than fines.

“We’re using actual decibel levels. It measures the overall combined noise coming from various sources, so to separate those things out is very difficult, but we can get an indication of noise in an area, and then through a process, identify if there is any one source that is exceeding the noise limits,” Garlick tells Beach Radio News.

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Noise complaints in the past have included pickleball, industry, and farming but he says farming noise is exempt under the Right to Farm Act.

Pickleball is not as much of an issue now that the club has opened new courts in Marshall Field.

Garlick says some high levels have been recorded on School Road near the industrial area in Lavington, but he says they are not significant overages.

“Is it perfect? No, but hopefully it’s an improvement, and we’ll be working with it more as it gets adopted.”

Council has given the bylaw three readings, meaning it’s one step from final approval.

“When considering the total sound measurements, it is also likely that the industries operating in Lavington are not exceeding sound limits regularly, though intermittent noises (particularly at night) can be very disruptive. The proposed bylaw includes the application of a ‘penalty’ in the way of additional decibels added to a reading to accommodate for intermittent noise,” says a report to council from Keri-Ann Austin, Director of Corporate Administration.

Sound level measurements were taken at the following locations as determined by the Council’s Committee of the Whole:
Coldstream West
1. Sovereign Park
2. Kalview Park (below tennis court)
3. Kalview Park (above tennis court)
4. Middleton Mountain Park (east of
pickleball play)
5. Middleton Mountain Park (north of
pickleball play

Coldstream East
1. Buchanan Road
2. 9896 Hill Drive
3. Corner of Hill Drive/Glass Plant
4. 9898 School Road
5. South of Baptist Church on School Road
6. 3001 Coachwood Crescent

by Corey Fischer