Applicant Martin Whyte addresses D/NE council. December 6th, 2022
Drummond/North Elmsley council followed planner Brady McGlade’s recommendation to defer a rezoning application, which would permit the use of a commercial gun range in Rideau Ferry Tuesday night.
Councillor Paul Coutts declared a conflict of interest prior to the Committee of the Whole meeting, due to his property being in close proximity to the proposed range.
They did so in a jam-packed council chambers, where they ran out of space and people stood and watched from the hallway.
The range would sit at 1688 Rideau Ferry Road, the location of the former OPP gun range the police force used for practice and recertification for over two decades.
Ann Silversides made one of the six delegations on the night, four of which opposed the range while two were for it, and was part of the group who put up the now missing signs across the township opposing a gun range.
She has several issues with seeing a commercial gun range including noise pollution.
Silversides helped gather over 500 signatures from area residents who oppose a range. That figure, she says, is indicative of how the public feels about this topic.
The applicant Martin Whyte agreed with staff’s recommendation to defer the decision, saying all the facts need to be present so an informed vote could be had. He told Lake 88 that he didn’t anticipate this amount of backlash when he submitted the rezoning application.
Whyte said he’s open to have an honest and respectful conversation with anyone in opposition to the prospective range, so long as it remains as such.
He feels misinformation around the range is leading opposers to draw their own conclusions on emotion and not facts.
Whyte said of course he wants his application approved at the end of this, as it fits a need in the community.
There are lengthy waiting lists and closed applications for other shooting ranges in the area.
Among the opponents of the range is Millar Brooke Farm, who have been very vocal from the start. Brad Jukosky spoke on the farm’s behalf at the meeting and said unanticipated loud noises such as gunfire at a nearby range could startle the horses and cause injury to the animals or a rider.
When the OPP range was operating, he said the police notified them in advance of the days and hours they were shooting, so training was moved indoors which helped mitigate the sound for the animals. He said the farm would not be able to operate should the range be approved at the adjacent property.
Whyte said he hasn’t gone through this extensive process to not see it until the very end. Whyte also said he’s heard from many members of the community expressing their support but admits it’s harder for people to speak out when there’s loud opposition on any topic.
The township wants the chance to see the results of a peer review of the noise study submitted by the applicant before making a recommendation to approve or deny the request. There’s no timeline as to when that peer review will be complete.
Story by Grant Deme
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