Downtown Kitchener special events granted noise exemption

Kitchener is seeing nice spring weather consistently, and with that comes a wide range of downtown events.

The city has activities planned until the end of December, but for any event to happen, they must be allowed to make noise. That’s what prompted discussion at Monday’s Community and Infrastructure Services Committee meeting.

City enforcement staff recommended that a noise exemption be granted for downtown special events, as well as for Grand River Hospital’s Rally for Health community event in the Sun Life parking lot adjacent to the hospital on May 27.

The councillors did agree on the recommendations, however Ward 9 Councillor Debbie Chapman wanted to know how city staff is going to reach out to the property managers of new residential condos that have been built in the downtown over the past two years to ensure that notice of these loud events is provided to their residents.

Director of Enforcement, Gloria MacNeil, replied to Chapman by saying staff asked the condo board and the property managers to inform the residents. She added that she couldn’t recall any complaints last year, however Chapman claimed she has already heard complaints this year.

Ward 6 Councillor Paul Singh also spoke up, and he asked why noise complaints have to come through council at all, when they could be dealt with by delegated staff. This was MacNeil’s response:

“Staff have already been given delegated authority for some noise exemptions, so generally they are community events, barbecues, weddings, stuff that happens in residential areas,” said MacNeil.

“I think where I would have the concern and why we’ve continued to come to council is generally what comes to council are bigger events, where there is more capacity for complaints to come in. Where there is alcohol involved and sometimes thousands of people in attendance. I think we have come to council just to ensure that council is aware and if there is any restrictions that council would like to see placed on the noise exemption then there is opportunity for that to happen.”

Singh also believes that downtown events are part of the city’s identity, and he said he doesn’t want to see anything put in place that restricts them.

The full list of exempted events can be found here.