Cambridge firm proposes new building to address residents’ noise concerns
Recycler works with city, ministry to tackle noise, vibration
Bob Sweeney and fellow residents on Bluerock Crescent can’t enjoy their backyards and find it hard to get a good night’s sleep because of the noise and vibration being made by their neighbours.
The east Galt residents are living in a neighbourhood that sits immediately adjacent to the CP Rail line and they have the East Cambridge Industrial Park on the other side of the tracks.
“We’ve been fighting this forever,” Sweeney told members of the city’s planning committee.
Both the residential subdivision and industrial park were created in the 1960s, but over the years the industrial park has developed and rail traffic has intensified since a spur line to service the industrial park has been used by a local metal recycling company.
Responding to complaints, the city undertook the Bluerock Crescent Environmental Noise Assessment and Feasibility Study in 2016.
Project engineer Jamie Croft has just presented the study’s results to city officials.
At the crux of the findings is the noise being generated by Combined Metal Industries (CMI), the company working closest to residents, and the shunting of railway cars used by the company at all hours of the day.
The study found the worst area for noise is at the junction of the main CP Rail line and the spur line into the industrial park.
As part of the study, the city looked at constructing a noise barrier along the property line between residents on Bluerock Crescent and the CP Rail line.
However, construction of the wall would present a number of challenges.
For starters, the alignment of the wall along the top of an existing berm would uproot a number of mature trees and lead to the removal of a number of sheds and garages.
CP Rail would also not allow the construction of the wall on its land.
The cost of the proposed wall would be about $900,000 and it would not significantly reduce noise levels, which were found to be well above the limits set by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Noise modelling done as part of the study showed Bluerock Crescent residents endured noise levels of 51 decibels (dBA) during the day and 53 dBA at night in the worst-case conditions. The ministry has set noise limits of 50 dBA during the day and 45 dBA at night.
Croft said the most effective mitigating measures would be those put in place closest to the source of the noise.
Recognizing it has an obligation to reduce noise levels to be in compliance with provincial standards, CMI is working with the city and ministry.
CMI has proposed constructing a new 18-metre-tall building to cover all of its outdoor operations and is proposing the extension of an existing noise barrier.
It also intends to build a new spur line into the new plant so rail cars can be loaded with recycled materials indoors.
When it comes to railway noise little can be done as the provincial noise standards do not apply to the railway.
The study did not look into the impact that vibrations are having on Bluerock Crescent homes. Croft said vibrations are having an impact and are coming from the railway, not the industry.
Sweeney said things would be better for the residents if CMI were to run regular work hours instead of operating 24-7. Croft said the city has no control over the operating hours of Cambridge companies.
The study concluded that the city should work with CMI to mitigate the noise issues.
CMI chief financial officer David Herr told the meeting the company has been working with the city since 2012 to address the issues raised by the community.
“We do realize that mitigation of noise is required,” he said. “We approached Energy+, CP Rail and economic development to make sure this is a viable solution."
Should CMI be able to purchase the additional land it needs from the city and get the necessary approvals, it intends to move forward with construction next spring.