With Erin now on board, all of the county’s seven municipalities have a uniform bylaw – requested by Wellington OPP, and drafted by SV Law.

Erin bylaw officer Martyna Sliwiak told 91���Ѽ in April the bylaw “allows for effective enforcement with provisions for addressing the needs of a growing community.”

The town’s previous iteration of a noise bylaw, which expired at the beginning of May, wasn’t sufficient, Sliwiak said.

The town was without teeth to enforce noise issues anywhere outside of residential-zoned areas.

Now, there’s an around-the-clock blanket prohibition on any noise Sliwiak or the OPP deem unreasonable.

The new bylaw has also introduced construction-specific noise prohibitions – a particular interest of 91���Ѽlors Bridget Ryan and Cathy Aylard, considering the town’s growth.

During last year’s county-wide consultations to draft the bylaw, Sliwiak suggested a clause to prohibit construction on Sundays.

But that would affect each municipality adopting the bylaw, and keep residents from building on their properties as well.

“And there’s no way of dividing the two, between mass development and someone putting up a deck?” Aylard asked last month.

“I did bring this forward, they (surrounding municipalities) don’t have the same issues as we do here currently,” Sliwiak said.

“We couldn’t put specific-to-the-town prohibitions because no other municipality was having these issues,” she explained.

What about changing the bylaw to suit the town’s needs, Ryan asked, but Sliwiak quashed the idea.

The OPP, as the primary response to noise violations in town, would refuse to enforce a town-specific bylaw, according to Sliwiak.

“As a consensus, and through SV Law consultation, this is what [SV Law] came up with as the best uniform bylaw for all municipalities,” Sliwiak said.

Trying to ease 91���Ѽlors’ concerns, she reiterated the new bylaw’s wide-reach – prohibiting any kind of disturbing noise anytime, anywhere.

If someone calls in a complaint, either she or an OPP officer, using personal judgment, can require whatever is causing the noise to be stopped.

According to Sliwiak, the bylaw provides “appropriate and reasonable expectations of all residents and businesses to ensure noise-related activities do not extend into unreasonable hours, affecting the right to peace and enjoyment.”

Though voluntary compliance is the goal, fines can be levied when people choose not to comply.

Fines increased from $125 across the board to between $400 and $800.

Noise offences now attract a fine of $400, not complying with a permit will cost $750, and obstructing an investigation rings in at $800.

Payments will typically go to the municipality, with the exception of “victim fine surcharges” and court fees, according to Sliwiak.

Mayor 91���Ѽ Dehn asked about the feasibility of getting an administrative monetary penalty system to handle municipal ticket processing and disputes in Erin, rather than the judicial system.

Council heard it can take years to get such a system implemented.

“I think we should revisit that sooner than later,” the mayor said.

Local exemptions to the new noise bylaw can still be obtained through the town, however 91���Ѽ is now bypassed in the process, with town clerk Nina Lecic reviewing and making the call on applications.

Bypassing 91���Ѽ is expected to streamline and expedite the permitting process, states a staff report.

According to the town, there have been 14 noise complaints between Jan. 1 and April 25.

Sliwiak did not answer questions from the Advertiser about whether those complaints were investigated by the town or police, or what the outcomes of the complaints were.

“All town complaints were investigated and/or followed up on,” she wrote in an email, providing the same response when asked the similar questions about 2023 complaints.

Other changes introduced in the new bylaw include:

• a specific list of exemptions;
• exemption application requirements;
• conditions to resolve permit non-compliance;
• administration, inspection and enforcement regulations;
• new provisions allowing for the expansion of noise sources with potential to
  adversely affect residents; and
• reasonable times for noise while allowing for enforcement and restrictions on
  unreasonable or excessive noise during permitted times.

Council unanimously voted to adopt the new bylaw, which took effect May 1.

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A mixed housing development on 129 acres on Trafalgar Road in south Hillsburgh is being proposed by Markham-based developer Ballantry Homes, a subsidiary of Beachcroft Investments.

Residents heard about previous iterations of the subdivision at meetings in May and June last year, collectively attended by roughly 75 people.

Concerns have largely revolved around traffic, the environment, infrastructure, a reluctance to change, parking, snow removal and desires to see density reduced with a focus on senior-suitable housing.

But what was originally proposed to be 799 units has since increased by almost 17 per cent to 933 units.

The net increase of 134 units comes from the removal of some types of housing, and the addition of others aimed at seniors.

There’s a total reduction of 136 single detached homes and townhomes from what was originally proposed, and an addition of 188 mixed-use seniors and 83 low-rise seniors units.

Other changes in the latest plan include more park space, walkways between residential blocks, storm water ponds rather than tanks, a street no longer extends to Ross R. MacKay Public School, and a new location for a future water tower.

*Drag slider below to compare original and revised subdivision concepts

With an average of 2.7 people per residence in Hillsburgh, according to 2021 census data, there would be an additional 2,519 residents moving into Hillsburgh – tripling the village’s population to 3,671 people, once the development is fully built out over the next decade.

A public meeting for a rezoning application was held at the Hillsburgh arena on the evening of May 9, with around 45 residents in attendance.

The meeting followed 91���Ѽ’s April amendment of the town’s official plan to redesignate the land.

Several residents posed specific questions about their concerns, be it dust control, roads, traffic, increased density, or water impacts – to name some.

Standing at a mic and reading from prepared comments, resident Karen DeRooy, who has been outspoken against the proposed development at other meetings, urged 91���Ѽ not to kowtow to the “demand of influential developers.”

The self-described proud community member said the newest iteration of the plan “is even worse than the first one” and said 91���Ѽ has an opportunity “to do better by the residents of Erin” by denying the developer’s rezoning request.

Her concerns were many, including traffic management, infrastructure and responsible growth.

“Enough is enough, it’s time to put an end to developers dictating the vision of our town,” she said to much applause.

Speaking on behalf of Beachcroft Investments, Maurizio Rogato of Blackthorn Development said revisions to the plan are “extensive” and consider comments and feedback from local politicians, residents and formal commenting agencies.

Rogato added the latest plan reflects a complete mixed-use community.

Councillor Cathy Aylard questioned the rationale for increasing density.

Rogato said they had to take a guess in the original plans without details about the roughly six acres that had been set aside for mixed use and senior-focused housing.

“That’s why you’re seeing a difference in the number of units,” he said.

A report with a recommendation on the rezoning will be presented to 91���Ѽ in the future for its consideration. The town did not say when that recommendation is expected.

In addition to the zoning changes sought by the developer, there are also proposed amendments to the county’s Official Plan to accommodate the development, as well as a draft plan of subdivision submitted.

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