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Credit Valley Conservation seeks exemption from Mono’s noise bylaw

April 11, 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Mike Baker

Yasmine Slater, Superintendent of Island Lake Conservation Area and Bill Lidster, Manager, Conservation Parks attended last week’s Mono Council meeting to seek an exemption from the town’s noise bylaw for specific events planned for Island Lake Conservation Area in 2019. 

Mr. Lidster noted that he received just three complaints from events last year, none of which exceeded the standard set by Council of 55 decibels (dB). He said he was aware of two other complaints that had been received by the Town’s Bylaw Enforcement Officer.

Several Mono residents told Council they had concerns regarding the effects, particularly at night, that these events may have on flora and fauna, and they questioned how having a beer tent was in keeping with CVC’s mandate to be accountable to the environment. Mr. Lidster responded that these events are located in an area of the park that takes into account their effect on the environment. 

Council approved exemptions for five of the six events CVC was seeking exemption for, CVC-hosted movie nights June 28, July 20 and August 10, the Canada Day event July 1, and Theatre Orangeville theatrical performances August 22-25.

However, they did not approve a noise exemption for an Islandpalooza fundraiser proposed for July 6th.

At the same meeting, Council learned that the Ontario Plowmen’s Association is looking to hold the International Plowing Match (IPM) in Mono in 2022. 

OPA President David Murray noted that the event has a $25M economic impact for the community that hosts it. Historically, 20,000 people a day attend the four-day event.

Council was told the IPM requires about 600 acres to host the event, including the exhibits, parking and the competition. The Livingston family, who farm several parcels of land in Mono, have agreed to host the event. The OPA is seeking support from the Town including a commitment to provide in-kind sponsorship of infrastructure/operational needs such as garbage disposal, recycling services and disposal of grey and black water. They will be taking their request to County Council, looking for a similar commitment. 

In other business, Council was advised that the Town is moving forward on developing a bike trail network, by taking advantage of funding available through the Main Street Revitalization Initiative.

Council and staff, along with public input, are putting together a draft plan that will detail where the trails should go and the providing signage to support them. The trails will be suitable for recreation and as a means of active transportation, linking to Orangeville.  The draft plan is expected to be ready by the end of July.

As well, Council approved donations to four local community groups. The Shelburne Agricultural Society will receive $500 towards the 2019 Fall Fair. Headwaters Food and Farming Alliance and the Orangeville Community Band will each be getting $500 while the Island Lake Rowing Club will receive $2,000.

The 2018 annual reports on the Town’s two drinking water systems are now available online.  The Safe Drinking Water Act mandates that these reports are prepared annually by the operating Glass of Waterauthority for each  drinking water system in the province.  The Director of Public Works reported that the Cardinal Woods Drinking Water System experienced intermittent sodium exceedances but that this is not a health risk. The Island Lake Drinking Water System periodically exceeded the revised maximum acceptable level of arsenic. The level of arsenic had not increase, rather, the standard had been changed, lowering the limit to 10 micrograms per litre (µg/L). The water periodically tested between 10 and 12 µg/L requiring ongoing monitoring. 

Following an extensive public engagement process that included the Parkland Needs Study, multiple public meetings and two surveys, Council has directed staff to prepare a site plan, including cost estimates, for adding new recreation facilities to the Island Lake Family Park. Council is also considering toilettes at the park. Other amenities under consideration include a parkette in the Fieldstone subdivision and creating a passive park along the stormwater management pond on the east side of the subdivision.

Features to be included in the site plan are:

•  north-south fully accessible pathway connecting the current entrance to the Vicki Baron trail to the parking lot at the south end of ILFP,

•  playing field (size to be determined),

•  two-court tennis court,

•  small picnic shelter,

•  naturalized area at the west end of ILFP,

• n expansion of the existing parking lot,

• etention of the existing children’s playground equipment,

• etention (if possible) of the existing sand pit used for volleyball

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