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Oro-Medonte officials grant permit for Boots and Hearts festival at Burl’s Creek

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In Agriculture
Jul 29th, 2015
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Packet & Times photo

By Roberta Bell, Orillia Packet & Times

The Township of Oro-Medonte has given the green-light to the Boots and Hearts Music Festival at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, but only on the 92 acres appropriately zoned for it.

During a special council meeting Tuesday afternoon, municipal politicians granted a permit similar to the one that allowed last weekend’s WayHome Music and Arts to take place.

The remainder of Burl’s Creek’s 570 acres is not zoned for special events and a permit that would allow Boots and Hearts to spill onto those parts of the property was denied.

The permit granted is subject to conditions associated with issues that came to light in the aftermath of WayHome, including noise.

Coun. Phil Hall said that noise was a concern for residents. He asked that the agreement drawn up to allow Republic Live to hold Boots and Hearts on the 92 acres of Burl’s Creek lay out consequences if noise levels get too high.

“I’d like some kind of reassurance that there’s some teeth behind that agreement and it isn’t going to cost us money,” Hall said.

Hall was told in response that staff would take that as direction when negotiating the agreement.

Coun. Scott Macpherson took issue with profanity of some artists that came with the noise of WayHome.

“That kind of language is not appropriate to be broadcast throughout our municipality,” Macpherson said.

After council’s decisions, residents, most of whom said they were bothered by WayHome and concerned about what Boots and Hearts would bring, lined up to ask questions in open forum.

Many reiterated Hall’s comments about the loud noise. Others brought up the issue of concert-goers (who had to pay for passes to use the shower facilities at the event) bathing in Lake Simcoe.

The residents cheered for each other, prompting Deputy Mayor Ralph Hough to insist that they maintain decorum. He said if they didn’t, the open forum would be cut short.

One man questioned why the township was seemingly willing to take such a hardline approach when it came to violating noise bylaws (which were extended beyond the normal 11 p.m. for WayHome), but not when it came to violating zoning bylaws.

WayHome – which attracted 35,000 visitors, most of whom camped on the property during the three-day festival – spilled off the 92 acres that it was permitted on.

Hough had said previously if that happened, the township would issue fines.

John Mascarin, the township’s legal counsel, said in an interview that council has not given direction to do so.

“Council will be considering how to proceed, whether charges will be laid, what charges, what basis,” Mascarin said.

“We’re looking at everything,” Mascarin said, noting everything includes zoning, noise and licensing issues.

Mascarin said council, which has discretion over how it enforces the municipality’s bylaws, is pursuing charges for using unzoned land for the Barrie Automotive Flea Market in June. He said the information was being sworn in Orillia court Tuesday afternoon.

Mascarin said the maximum fines contained in the Municipal Act are $100,000, but didn’t know how much council was seeking with respect to the flea market’s violation.

Burl’s Creek can fight the charges, Mascarin said.

“They can always defend on whatever grounds they deem appropriate,” Mascarin said.

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