SPCA needs to control noise

Cheryl Dawson
Times Colonist

Thursday, December 05, 2002
Re: the editorial "Good kennels can make good neighbours," Dec. 2.

It is true that many residents moved to the Burnside area since the 1960s, when the SPCA first located on Napier Lane. However, Burnside has been a residential area since the 1920s and the SPCA's light industrial zoning does not permit noise that disturbs adjacent residents.

That level of disturbance increased sharply in the early 1990s when the SPCA expanded its shelter over the objections of nearby residents.

On many occasions, the city and the local community attempted to resolve noise problems with the SPCA administration. These overtures were simply ignored, leaving the city no choice but to take enforcement action.

As to whether this "new" administration will take a different stand remains to be seen. Only a week ago the local shelter manager was saying publicly that the organization was doing nothing wrong and that neighbours had no basis for their complaints. Shelter staff are reportedly as surly as ever in responding to night-time noise complaints.

Yes there will be a cost for the SPCA to deal with its noise problems. Until it was grabbed by the provincial body, the Victoria SPCA was sitting on endowments worth millions of dollars. Where is that money now?

To suggest that the people living next to the SPCA should pay for more soundproofing is an insult when it has been estimated that past and present administrators spent $100,000 fighting a single bylaw ticket.

Cheryl Dawson,

Sooke.

© Copyright 2002 Times Colonist (Victoria)