Due to a flurry of calls and emails, Rocky View County is postponing a decision on its controversial Community Standards Bylaw, first presented to councillors on March 8.
Staff will modify the document, which includes firearm and noise restrictions, before the bylaw is brought back to council this fall.
“Some issues are cut and dry, like the use of firearms in hamlets,” said Reeve Rolly Ashdown. “Others created some concern.”
According to Ashdown, staff will take residents’ input into account before tweaking the bylaw, first introduced after the County received a number of complaints about vehicle noises.
The bylaw currently includes decibel limits and gives officers the tools to enforce them. It also contains controversial new rules for guns, including prohibiting the shooting of guns or other weapons, such as slingshots and bows and arrows, within hamlets.
More controversial is the bylaw’s new density rules, which makes firing guns on parcels less than 20 acres illegal without a permit.
The new rules for shooting caused concern for some residents of Division 9, several of whom organized a petition.
“They want to retain their rights and freedoms... on their rural properties,” said Councillor Paul McLean.
“Right now most people work on a respect level. They live in a community, they respect each other and they don’t necessarily feel they need to be legislated by a bylaw.”
McLean said several residents sought clarity in the bylaw’s wording to prevent unintended contravention of the bylaw.
Division 1 Councillor Rick Butler received input from residents and business owners on both sides of the issue of noise restrictions.
“The businesses were concerned it would curtail motorcyclists (from visiting),” said Butler.
“Other residents have expressed concern, so we said, ‘let’s step back.’”
Butler acknowledged there would be some disappointed people in Bragg Creek who would have liked to see the bylaw put in place.
However, he said a second version might better suit the needs of Rocky View residents.
McLean agreed, adding he is confident of the County’s ability to find a solution.
“I think that some of the concerns I heard were valid and worthy of seeing how we can alleviate and clarify (residents’) concerns,” he said. “At the end of the day, I think we will find something that meets the needs of Rocky View. I look forward to seeing the rewritten bylaw. We just need to do a little more work.”
Residents are encouraged to continue to provide input, said Ashdown.
“We want to make sure we get feedback from everyone who wants to give us feedback,” he said, acknowledging it would be tough to create a sweeping bylaw that meets everyone’s approval.
“You have to get everyone’s opinion and realize what works and doesn’t work and then craft something that covers all the angles,” said Ashdown.
