EXPLAINER: WHY DID WAINFLEET INCREASE NOISE BYLAW FINES?

TOWNSHIP ACTS TO IMPOSE MUCH BIGGER PENALTIES AND PLANS TO MAKE LICENSING OF SHORT-TERM PROPERTY RENTALS MANDATORY

THE STORY:

Wainfleet politicians agreed on May 10 to a call from Coun. John MacLellan to ramp up noise infractions fines for things such as blaring stereos, shouting and hooting in a way that disturbs the peace after 11 p.m. weekdays or 10 p.m. on holidays or Sundays, or using motorized equipment late at night.

WHY IS IT NEEDED?

Wainfleet continues to work on developing a bylaw to regulate and enforce rules for short-term rentals.

Internet-based applications — Airbnb is one name many people are familiar with — have enabled more out-of-town people to easily book short-term vacations at private homes up for rent. Places such as Wainfleet, with its beaches, are prime spots for renters. But the burgeoning shortterm rental phenomenon has led to significant conflict in neighbourhoods where residents frequently

complain of rowdiness and late-night parties by out-oftowners.

So as an interim step, Wainfleet politicians decided to impose bigger fines to keep rowdy behaviour in check.

WHAT IS THE STATUS?

A draft version of a new short-term rental bylaw was presented to township council on May 10, continuing work included a draft bylaw that went before council back last October, and had subsequent public input after that. Politicians decided May 10 to have work continue on it and bring it back for consideration at a subsequent council meeting.

Coun. Terry Gilmore said it could be "a number a months" before the licensing and regulatory process is in place.

WHY THE TOUGHER NOISE FINES?

MacLellan said with the May 24 long weekend looming, action was needed to clamp down on rowdy outof-towners while work continues on the licensing bylaw. He asked for the $75 fines in the noise bylaw to be ramped up to $1,000.

"If there's somebody down here partying in a one-time trip here, a $75 bill is not enough to deter you from doing what you're doing," he said "It's less than the cost of a night out on the town. Our biggest complaints from neighbours who call is the noise."

Mayor Kevin Gibson agreed the noise bylaw needed more teeth now.

"Seventy-five dollars in today's world is really nothing," he said. "I think $1,000 speaks to our belief that Wainfleet residents need to be protected and they shouldn't have to put up with the noise that we're all aware that some of them have."

THE DECISION:

Township community and development services manager Lindsay Earl said that under provincial rules, such fines can't be punitive. But she said $1,000 fines wouldn't be considered excessive. The motion to increase the fines to $1,000 was unanimously approved, although Gibson said bylaw enforcement staff will typically issue a verbal warning first.