Noise limits an issue in Kelowna

Noisy cars, motorcycles and boats might be something a future Kelowna city council revisits in the future.

Three of four candidates for mayor say they’d like council to consider imposing noise limits on vehicles and boats.

But incumbent Mayor Colin Basran, speaking during a mayoral forum Thursday on AM 1150, says experience elsewhere has shown such restrictions can be hard for municipalities to enforce. Court challenges against noise restrictions have been successful, Basran said.

“It can be really difficult to enforce because it’s really subjective,” Basran said. “How much noise is too much?”

Mayoral candidates Tom Dyas and Bob Schewe said they’d support council taking a look at the issue.

Bobby Kennedy was the only candidate who dismissed the idea outright, saying he thought the city and police have more important issues to address.

“I don’t remember the last time a really loud car attacked somebody with a crowbar,” Kennedy said.

* * * Mayoral candidate Bob Schewe says homeless shelters in downtown Kelowna should be moved to another area. While not suggesting where they should go, or explaining how the move would be financed, Schewe said it was important the shelters be moved “well away” from all residential and commercial areas.