Stephen Vance, Staff
Operators of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) could soon have access to Meaford’s downtown core, allowing them access to fuel, restaurants, and retail outlets.
At their July 18 meeting, Meaford council received a one-year review of the off-road vehicle bylaw passed on September 28 of last year.
That bylaw allowed the use of off-road vehicles such as ATVs on municipal roads with the exception of the downtown core.
Council was told that in the months since the bylaw was approved, no issues have been identified, and no complaints have been received.
“To date, the Municipality of Meaford has not observed any detrimental impact to allowing ORVs on its rural roads. Feedback was sought from police, by-law and transportation services. Feedback from the public can be received at the public meeting,” municipal Clerk Rob Tremblay told council on July 18.
Council was presented with three options at the meeting – continue with the current prohibition of off-road vehicles in the downtown core; identify a specific route allowing access to downtown restaurants, shops, and fuel stations; or allowing off-road vehicles on all roads in the municipality.
Council opted for the second option which would establish routes from Grey Roads 12 and 7 to Sykes Street.
On September 14 of last year, roughly 75 residents attended a public meeting at Meaford Hall focused on the draft bylaw which would allow off-road all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on most roadways in the municipality. That audience was overwhelmingly supportive of the proposal though some residents expressed concern about the potential for noise and damage to municipal roads. Council ultimately approved the bylaw allowing off-road vehicles on municipal roads on September 28, 2015.
Councillor Jaden Calvert, who was the only member of council to vote against the off-road vehicle bylaw last September, suggested at this week’s council meeting that if the municipality is prepared to allow ATVs on municipal roads in the urban core, some thought should also be given to allowing other types of transportation such as skateboards, which are currently banned from municipal roads by a 30 year old bylaw.
“I would love to see the promotion of more active transportation in downtown Meaford, and one of the things that could (be considered) is allowing longboards or skateboards in our community. That’s something that’s currently not permitted on municipal roads, so I think if we’re going to be considering off-road vehicles on municipal roads, I think we should also be considering other modes of transportation in the community,” suggested Calvert.
The municipal Clerk suggested that Councillor Calvert might want to bring a notice of motion at a future council meeting to repeal the 30 year old bylaw that bans skateboards on Meaford roads.
Council voted 6-0 in favour of the proposal to establish routes for off-road vehicles to the downtown core, and the public will be able to offer their thoughts at a public meeting to be held on Monday, August 8.
