Wayne Place Residents appeal to City Council for a good night's rest

Residents of Wayne Place Seniors Residence are frustrated by ongping
evening and overnight noise in the area

What has become an ongoing issue of concern for residents of a Senior's Residence in the downtown core gained another mention at Prince Rupert City Council on Monday night. 

That as Bruce Rempel, speaking on behalf of the residents of Wayne Place, outlined a range of noise and other concerns of the residents for Council members.

Speaking as part of the Committee of the Whole portion of the night, Mr. Rempel, the forrmer  Manager of Prince Rupert Senior Housing, outlined some of the incidents in the area that are frustrating weary residents of the facility adjacent to the West side of the Rupert Square Mall.

"The Tenants asked me to represent them on an issue they have been having ... the residents of 630 Wayne Place Prince Rupert, which is commonly known as Wayne Place Senior Housing. 

They are concerned about the quality of life, comfort, peace, enjoyment and especially their rest at night that has been greatly affected by the Transport trucks creating an unacceptable levels of noise as they park on First Avenue, in the Mall and in the entry to Home Hardware.

The noise goes on from the  evening into the early hours of the morning and other occasions they come early and park at the Home Hardware and beside the noise level the fumes from the diesel is also affecting them."

Mr. Rempel noted of a letter signed by the residents and outlined some measures that could be put in place  by the city, such as No Idling bylaws and other civic options.

Also speaking to the topic, was resident Susan Visentin, who relayed some of the night time events.

"Every night, sometimes they come at 8 o'clock or 9 o'clock up  to 5 o'clock in the morning, you won't be able to sleep because you can hear the noise, you can  smell the fumes and everything, so it's hard to sleep.

I don't know what's the solution on that one, on behalf of the thing, maybe you can do something for that.

Because we want to sleep as a Senior, we want peace and every night it's like that.

So, how can you sleep at night if there's lots of lights on the truck, you can hear them every night so it's hard" 

Some of the distress for the residents is related to the volume
of trucks that transit to Home Hardware and stage in the
Rupert Square parking lot

Following the presentation, Mr. Rempel was advised to hand the Wayne Place petition to the City's corporate Administrator.

You can review the presentation to City Council from the video archive starting at the one hour six, minute mark.

It's not the first time that area residents in the downtown core have had concerns presented to City Council, though the last time it was raised the plight of those with concerns did not receive a particularly sympathetic response. 

The topic of idling trucks and noise in the downtown core was first raised by Councillor Barry Cunningham  as part of the January 8th Council session.

Two weeks later Mayor Herb Pond again spoke to the topic along with City Manager Rob Buchan.

"You know, clearly this is an issue that has been brought by a particular citizen, around a particular issue; of which after investigation, he and he alone is the only one that seems to have any concern over it.

The neighbours around him don't, the businesses around him don't

And the noise level, is the noise level one would expect in an urban downtown core 24/7.  

It's not a residential neighbourhood  out in quiet part of town. It is a downtown urban core that has trucks and traffic and whatever.

So, we can tighten the bylaw to make it more restrictive but you've got to be cautious how you walk there, because  there's a certain amount of urban downtown noise that's just going to be and we're much quieter than most urban centres. -- Mayor Herb Pond on downtown noise in Janaury 2024

City Council didn't appear to attach much of a priority to the issue of downtown truck idling in January.

The residents of Wayne Place are likely hoping that their presentation and petition to the topic may generate some kind of assistance from the city towards their night time plight.

More Notes from the Monday Council session can be explored through our Council Timeline.