Changes to Toronto’s noise bylaw could be on the way, even though complaints to the city about noise have increased. This, in addition to a June announcement that venues and bands will no longer be ticketed for postering on non-city spaces, could be good news for the future of Music City.
On July 29, the Toronto Music Advisory Council, and the Municipal Licensing & Standards department held a music industry consultation at Metro Hall to discuss a review of Chapter 591 (which covers all forms of noise in the city), which has been ongoing since late March.
Music sector development officer Mike Tanner, who previously organized a Music City Town Hall, moderated the consultation. Jessica Walters of the ML&S provided factual to date info, and Andreas Kalogiannides, entertainment lawyer and co-chair of TMAC also led the event.
Even though the audience, filled with festival, venue and industry reps were vocal and sometimes off-topic, Tanner was able to iterate some of his recommendations for the amended bylaw: clear standards of measuring noise an 85dBA (decibel) health safety limit of noise based on perimeter of event improved enforcement officer collaboration between with concerned parties streamlining of event-related permits and shifting of burden of proof of unwanted noise.
Drawing on the film sector as an example, he suggested Toronto should attempt a “good neighbour policy” of informing people of events generating noise.
Kalogiannides was previously critical of the city’s need to balance residential and business needs with supporting the creative output of the community. In a report, he said the survey and review so far has been weak, with many music venue owners not made aware of a review. It also said the Hard Luck bar paid close to $50,000 for soundproofing.
Near the end, Tanner expressed his interest in bringing both sides together in meeting everyone’s needs – but that may be a philosophy we can’t realistically legislate.
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