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Lacombe updating its nuisance bylaw

New bylaw expected to address everything from noisy snowblowers to driveway wrecks
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High-velocity snowblowers are pretty handy. But some Lacombe residents have complained they are being used too late or early in the day. Council is considering setting hours for snowblower use. Red Deer Advocate file photo

Attention, Lacombe residents.

Do high-velocity snow blowers get your goat?

How about noisy trucks idling at all hours?

The City of Lacombe wants to hear what irks local residents as part of a review of its Nuisance Bylaw.

The plan is to combine the Nuisance Bylaw and Community Standards Bylaw into one to streamline regulations. To add more clarity, a schedule will be included outlining which offences police will act on and which are enforced by bylaw officers.

Pulling all of the nuisance and community standards regulations into one bylaw is expected to be more convenient for residents.

“We’re having one spot where residents can view information on how to be a good neighbour,” corporate services director Diane Piche said with a chuckle Monday.

Last month, council batted about ideas and discussed how to respond to some of the complaints it has received.

The growing use of high-velocity leaf blowers to tackle snow has generated complaints that they are being used too early or late in the day.

Council members suggested banning them after 9 p.m. and before 7 a.m. Noisy idling vehicles have also drawn complaints.

The new bylaw may also set standards to deal with light pollution to ensure that homeowners are not bothered by neighbours’ outside lighting.

Besides adding new regulations, the bylaw review is expected to clarify what constitutes an unreasonable eyesore. Existing regulations are not clear what will be considered a dilapidated vehicle, making it difficult for bylaw officers to enforce the rules.

Council is expected to get its first look at a revamped nuisance bylaw in early March.

Before it is passed though, public input will be sought. Social media and the town’s website will be used to see what the public thinks of the new regulations. Businesses will be contacted directly or through email.

Piche said those approaches are proving more effective in getting responses than open houses, which tend to draw small numbers.

The new bylaw is expected to come back to council for approval in April.



pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com

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