Amendment to Noise By-law exemption for Bracebridge snowmobile track denied
Bracebridge Council denied the amendment to the Noise By-law exemption for a snowmobile track in Bracebridge, in the September 11, 2024, meeting.
In the September 3rd General meeting Committee approved the Noise By-law exemption for snowmobiles and grooming equipment to operate between 7am to 11pm at 2819 Highway 118 East (Goodale Marine).
Due to resident letters of concern, Councillor, Debbie Vernon, requested an amendment to the By-law exemption to change the hours to 9am to 10pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 10am until 5pm on Sunday.
She said, “I think it’s important to address the concerns of the neighbours and to keep the peace between the neighbours and business owner.”
Councillor, Barb McMurray, supported the amendment as a way to work with the neighbours and business owner.
Deputy Mayor, Brenda Rhodes, disagreed. She said, “The track ran for many years without complaints.”
Rhodes added that the business owner has been compliant with Town requests and added noise berms for sound.
She continued that the process has been ongoing and isn’t new. She said, “Correspondence from people regarding ‘pulling a fast one’ on that is something new.”
Councillor, Don Smith, said he read the letters from people concerned about the noise and suggested allowing the exemption to go forward for a year and then revisiting it would “be fair to the community at large.” He added, “They can become familiar, see the circumstances, and the owner can move forward.”
Councillor, Tatiana Sutherland, indicated that allowing “tester years” sets the president for other community members to want to do the same. She suggested that it’s “creating a resourcing issue for the By-law Department.”
Rhodes agreed that it would increase staff effort. She questioned, “Why ask for the extra effort from staff and the business owner, making them jump through hoops?”
Smith indicated that returning for exemptions is something Council sees regularly.
McMurray continued to advocate for the community concerns. She said, “I believe the nail’s been hit on the heat quite correctly. The neighbours are upset.”
She suggested that more concerns may be raised with the approval of the 7am to 11pm noise exemption. “That would certainly make those letters come forward,” she said.
She added that reducing the hours provides the community with “a short grace period where they can sleep.”
