By a narrow 9-8 vote, the new ATV bylaw in Chatham-Kent was passed by council.
The approval drew praise from members of the newly formed Chatham-Kent ATV Club.
“What a night at council,” Vince Masse, who formed the ATV club, said on social media.
“We have an ATV bylaw in Chatham-Kent. Our ATV club made me proud along with our speakers and councillors who believe in us.”
Here is a breakdown of what was approved on Monday night:
– The ATV bylaw will be in place for a one-year trial period (March 7, 2016 to March 7, 2017)
– No machines are allowed on major highways or high traffic roads (see graphics below), except for crossing them
– ATVs can only be driven on public property during daylight hours: between half an hour after sunrise and a half an hour before sunset
– There is no access to Chatham, even during snowfalls
– ATV users must have a valid license, proper insurance and permits
Here is a list of the roads that are restricted in Wallaceburg:
Here is a list of the roads that are restricted in Dresden:
Many rural arterial highways are also included on the restricted list, such as Bear Line Road, Electric Line, and Base Line. Here is a link to the full report and bylaw, which has a list of all the restricted roads at the end of the document.
East Kent Coun. Steve Pinsonneault, who brought the original motion forward last fall, said this was a responsible bylaw.
“It’s a good start,” he said.
“We need this year’s trial basis just to prove that we can be successful with this, and we will be successful.”
Pinsonneault said the bylaw will increase economic development.
“This is an opportunity with very little or no expense to the tax base,” he said. “Industry is leaving, it gets tougher every year. This is one of those things where we can enhance it.”
Wallaceburg Coun. Carmen McGregor said approving the bylaw was a positive for the community.
“I think there is the desire for community members to be able to utilize it,” she said.
“I think we’ve demonstrated that there could be positive financial gains to some of our business people within this community.”
Wallaceburg resident John Van Heck was one a handful of people to provide a deputation about the ATV issue.
He said the Chatham-Kent ATV club is focused on promoting safe riding, proper use of equipment and understanding of the bylaw.
“The sky’s the limit with what could be invested,” he said.
Not everyone was in favour of the new bylaw, including Chatham-Kent’s Police Chief, Gary Conn.
“Obviously a very contentious issue we have before us,” Conn said.
“I’m not opposed to the expansion of ORVs in our community, however not with the current bylaw being put forward.”
Conn said he would like to see more restrictions placed on access to certain roadways in order to limit the risk of collisions.
Some members of the farming community were also against the bylaw.
Louis Roesch, a director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, said during a deputation to council he is concerned about the ATVs travelling on the shoulder of rural roads.
“They will be approaching and passing farm vehicles on the right hand side of the roadway,” he said.
“A good majority of turns into farm properties will be to the right into unmarked entrances. ORVs are very low to the ground and hard to see and could be travelling three to four times the speed of our machinery. This possibility is probable and could be very deadly.”
Chatham Coun. Derek Robertson said approving the bylaw opens the Municipality up for liability.
“It will expose ourselves to risk,” he said.
Voting in favour of the bylaw on Monday were councillors Mark Authier, Michael Bondy, Carmen McGregor, Darrin Canniff, Bryon Fluker, Bob Myers, Doug Sulman, Steve Pinsonneault and Trevor Thompson.
Voting against the bylaw were councillors Brock McGregor, Joe Faas, Karen Herman, Leon Leclair, Derek Robertson, David Vandamme, Frank Vercouteren and Mayor Randy Hope.
Absent was Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley.
After voting down the bylaw back in November, council voted to revisit the issue in a separate vote in December.
