Members of the Collingwood Rod and Gun Club will still be able to go shooting on the weekends according to the draft noise bylaw currently in the works.
Collingwood council voted on Monday to allow discharge of a firearm at a shooting facility on Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays and holidays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
While coming up with the terms for the proposed noise bylaw, staff consulted with the local gun club and came up with some reductions in hours of operation supported by the gun club membership.
Council has voted in favour of these hours and asked staff to include them in the final bylaw – which is still subject to council approval.
At a Corporate and Community Services Standing Committee meeting on April 9, a number of residents came forward with public delegations. Some were in favour of the weekend hours, others were opposed to any shooting at the facility on weekends, suggesting it disturbs their enjoyment of the neighbourhood.
The other contentious issue in the draft noise bylaw has been the schedule allowing construction equipment operation on Saturdays.
A number of public comments have come in opposed to any commercial construction on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The initial draft bylaw allowed construction equipment noise Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and did not permit the noise on Sundays or holidays.
At the council meeting Monday, April 16, councillors voted to reduce the hours on Saturday to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and prohibit noise from construction equipment within developments not assumed by the town or on property where site plan development agreement was approved on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. For example, at a new development where multiple units are being constructed on a new road the draft noise bylaw would prohibit noise from construction equipment.
Council also asked staff to present options for possible exemption models.
The final bylaw is expected to come to council on April 30 for a vote before it is implemented.