Residents here don’t believe a horse show in a rural area needs to be as loud as a night club. But Angelstone Tournaments representatives maintain the operation continues to work to mitigate sound and traffic issues.
Nancy Gilbert, who lives on the Eramosa-Erin Townline just north of Wellington Road 50, was before council on Jan. 21 expressing her concerns with Angelstone Tournaments.
Gilbert and her husband purchased their property in 1985 and had enjoyed a quiet lifestyle and backyard until a few years ago, when Angelstone opened.
Gilbert expressed concern with the noise, road safety and privacy issues. Gilbert opined there had been a total disregard for the neighbours and their needs.
“Unfortunately for me, my property abuts the Angelstone property and I am one of the closest neighbours,” she said, adding she has voiced complaints directly to Angelstone and council through phone calls and written letters.
Gilbert told council that during the Angelstone events, loudspeakers are on from 7am to dusk and the nights where there is entertainment after the event, music can continue as late as 2am.
“Neighbours have told me the noise carries as far as Everton,” she said.
As a comparison, Gilbert said, “Imagine Erin Fall Fair … and the noise that generates … and you get a sense of what my neighbours and I put up with all summer long.”
She added that for next year, the Angelstone website announced its intent to host a pair of Grand Prix events at night – using technology promising to “turn night into day.”
That venue will include cranes utilizing high intensity lighting.
Gilbert questioned whether this was sanctioned by the town – and if so, why neighbours were not consulted. She also voiced concern with the 66-acre site and its ability to host a 1,000 people, 800 horses, assorted trailers and dirt bikes at each venue.
The property only has one entrance and Gilbert questioned what would happen in the event of an emergency.
“Due to the location of my property to Angelstone Tournaments, our privacy has been invaded by a number of people trespassing in our backyard. There have been instances where people attending events at Angelstone have set up and parked trailers on our property.”
She commented on Keean White’s presentation to council on Sept. 17, 2013 in which he stated he had no idea the noise bothered the neighbours.
Gilbert said neighbours had contacted White, the municipality was notified and the OPP attended concerts to advise the sound was too high. At the time, White was seeking a noise exemption for the nighttime events.
In September, White was told to talk with the neighbours to work something out.
“No contact with neighbours has occurred to date (as of Jan. 7),” she said.
Gilbert also asked that the problem be settled before Angelstone proceeds further with its program.
Councillor Barb Tocher noted Angelstone has requested a zoning amendment for the property. A public meeting regarding Angelstone is set for Feb. 20 at 7pm.
Tocher said at that time members of the public would have the opportunity to make their views known.
Mayor Lou Maieron said when he started as mayor, Angelstone’s operations were just getting underway as an equestrian facility.
For the upcoming zoning meeting, Maieron asked staff to provide a report on how Angelstone grew from what it was to what it is today. “I’d like to understand how it’s moved to this state.”
Maieron said he wants to support economic development, “but I’d like to be able to sleep after 11pm as well.”
Gilbert said she wouldn’t mind seeing a report as well.
Tocher asked for additional reports from the roads department and the fire department regarding whether the entrance is adequate.
One resident described the noise as “beyond unacceptable – it’s like a night club.”
Maieron stated that residents would have a chance to speak further at the zoning meeting.
In an email response by Angelstone Tournaments, vice president Ryan Clermont stated that Angelstone “is proud to be an integral part of the economic, athletic and tourism development of the town of Erin.
“Since the company’s founding in 2010, Angelstone Tournaments has sought to bring world-calibre equestrian show jumping to the area,” Clermont said.
“It is the intent of Angelstone to work closely with the property’s neighbours to encourage a productive dialogue that addresses concerns and promotes effective solutions.”
He maintained that Angelstone has made great efforts to do so “on a one-to-one basis.”
Clermont said sporting events require use of the loudspeakers to update competitors and spectators regularly throughout the day.
He said board members worked diligently in 2013 to mitigate generated noise and implemented an action plan in September 2013.
That included narrowing the hours of operation from 8am to 11pm and seeking special exemptions for five events which would allow operations until midnight.
He said those provisions still apply and that Angelstone would continue noise mitigation efforts. Clermont noted the number of events has been scaled back from 10 weeks to five weeks.
He agreed the majority of concerns raised were in regard to the special events involving entertainment.
“Angelstone believes in being good neighbours and consequently have adopted a zero-tolerance policy regarding competitors grazing their horses on land owned by a neighbour.”
Clermont said Angelstone staked the area with “no trespassing” signs and intends to construct a fence in that location this year to avoid further conflict.
He agreed traffic management on Wellington Road 50 requires additional attention.
“In 2014, Angelstone has committed to hiring off-duty police officers from the local community to direct traffic on Saturday evenings.”
As to the proposed lighting system, Clermont said the illumination will not bleed onto adjacent properties as the lighting will be directed into the stadium area.
He noted the Angelstone series “promotes the advancement of Canadian athletes (and their horses) vying to compete at the Olympic Games by offering a ‘home base’ in eastern Canada to get the experience needed to compete at an elite level.”
