7/31/2019 July 7, 2012 AGM Report From the Chairperson of the Plan 24 Committee

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Report from the Chairperson of the Plan 24Committee

For the AGM July 7, 2012.

At our AGM last year, our newly elected Councillors, Dave Maguire and Doug Bonesteelwere invited to speak to us about what they had accomplished on Council since theirelection. After their presentation, they held a question and answer period. It was then theylearned of the frustrations of the property owners in Plan 24!

They attended a meeting of our Committee at the end of July and gathered ourdocumentation. They presented a report to Council August 8th and the Short Term RentalAccommodations Committee was born. The committee met in August, September andOctober. Dave Maguire was interviewed by CBC News in September and the Committeeheld a Meet and Greet for the public in early October. Their first report to Council was

presented December 19th

with public input at a meeting in January 2012. A Mid-WayReport was presented to Council in March 2012.

They have been very busy over the last year and some of their proposals included anamalgamation of bylaws into a new Noise and Nuisance Bylaw, meeting with Bylaw andOPP Officers for their input, an education letter to property owners in the spring of 2012and the purchase of decibel meters for use in the summer of 2012. They also had theMunicipal property at the corner of Centre and Woodward and on Shady Lane surveyedlast fall.

In the March Mid-Way Report, the Committee asked Council to confirm its commitment to

enforcement of the bylaws and requested an additional $5000.00 be added to the bylawenforcement budget. The report noted that the public was advised that officers wouldcontinue to log calls for service (as would OPP) and would use decibel readers this summerfor information and data collection purposes only. On last report, the letter was sent out toPlan 24 residents the last week of June and the decibel meters have not been purchased.

In response to some of these initiatives, the Lambton Shores Community Associationinformed Council last fall that ENFORCEMENT of current bylaws rather than the draftingof new bylaws was imperative. This spring we drafted and distributed the Record of Callsfor Service Form and a poster called Please Call for our members for documentation tobe compiled at the end of this summer season.

Report Card Time!

The reports from property owners and from personal observations indicate that, overall,things are calmer at the Woodward and Centre corner. My husband and I have been to ourcottage 5 times this summer so far and have stayed over 3 times. We can say that on thewhole, we have enjoyed our time there. This is in contrast to not staying over for the lastthree years.

7/31/2019 July 7, 2012 AGM Report From the Chairperson of the Plan 24 Committee

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However, property owners do have some concerns:

1. There seems to be more noise in other areas and at other cottages. I haverequested documentation as to how many noise violations charges have been

laid in Plan 24 this summer, and at 11 and 13 Woodward, specifically. I do nothave that information as yet.

2. Last year there was a complaint regarding the extra high fences around theproperties at 11 and 13 Woodward Avenue which in effect created acompound in our single family residential area. The owners were advised toapply for a minor variance, even though the fences were twice as high as theBylaw allows. After two Committee of Adjustment hearings it was ruled thatthe application was refused and the fences were to be made to comply with theBy-laws; that is, the maximum height at the interior and rear yards is to be 6feet and the front yard and exterior side yards is to be 3 feet. There has been no

compliance as yet.

3. Regarding the parking of vehicles at 11 and 13 Woodward, residents have beentold by our Bylaw Officer, that he is allowing the cars to be parked therebecause he has to make concessions to this owner. Where the vehicles arebeing allowed to park contravenes the Parking Bylaws on two counts! Also, anumber of property owners witnessed the members of the STRA Committee,state to the owners that there would be no parking on Centre or Woodward, asthere was no room for vehicles to park on their property there.

4. Property owners also witnessed Committee members tell these owners thathaving their gates open inward contravenes the fire code and they must alterthem for safety reasons. This also has not been done.

5. Residents feel that they should not have to complain to get a response; if noiseand disturbances are obvious to police and bylaw officers, they should act.

In conclusion, property owners are pleased that Council is addressing our long timefrustrations with owners of short term rental accommodations, and with their efforts tocontrol the noise and nuisance behaviour of tenants, but we have serious concerns aboutvigilant and consistent enforcement of our bylaws!

Report submitted by Sandra Cronk,Secretary for the Lambton Shores Community AssociationChairperson for the Committee representing property owners in Plan 24