Councillors in Gibsons are trying to balance consistency with surrounding jurisdictions and the need for different rules for householders working on their properties and commercial construction as they update the Town’s noise bylaw.
In a presentation to a July 28 meeting of council’s planning and development committee, bylaw officer Sue Booth said there have been a number of complaints about noise from construction sites over the past few years.
Booth said as well as the sections dealing with construction noise, the bylaw needs other updates to take care of dated language like “cries from hawkers and newsvendors.”
In a discussion that carried on for nearly an hour, Mayor Bill Beamish said having a noise bylaw that’s consistent with the regulations in the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) and Sechelt is important, especially when it comes to hours for operating construction equipment.
Committee member Clifford Sutton said based on his experience in the construction industry, a 7 a.m. start at the site, with louder operations like concrete pouring or use of power tools held off until 7:30 or 8 a.m., is typical.
“The other thing I would say is that [with] noise regulations you know you’re just never going to find a time to satisfy everybody and every interest,” he said.
Coun. Annemare De Andrade also suggested that Friday, which is treated the same as any other weekday currently, should be considered part of the weekend, at least in the evenings. “We are a very touristic economy,” she said. “So we need to have some flexibility.”
Beamish pointed out that what works in larger communities may not work in Gibsons. “We’re not a big city and I think we have to recognize that we have a preponderance of seniors in this community that deserve, and have earned, their rest.”
Several committee members also raised the importance of differentiating between a householder doing work around the home or yard, such as lawn mowing or building a garden shed, and a contractor working on a bigger project, referred to in the bylaw as work “gain or profit.”
The committee agreed on some preliminary changes, which will be brought back to a future meeting for further refinement.
The changes would set construction hours as Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with nothing allowed on Sundays or statutory holidays.
Householders doing construction work “not for gain or profit” will be permitted Saturday, Sunday and stat holidays, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Power equipment, such as lawnmowers, could be used by householders between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, and weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The so-called “quiet hours” being considered would run 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday to Friday and Friday night to Sunday, 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. with a special exemption for New Year’s Eve.
Construction firms and residents would also have the option of applying for a special permit to work outside those hours.
Coun. Aleria Ladwig, who chairs the committee, said whatever updates council eventually decide on should “reflect the expression of frustration that we’ve heard from the community on this… I sympathize.”
