With relatively few off-road vehicle infractions reported during the past two years, Councillor John Lamers said it is time to bring the issue of access back to the council table.
Lamers brought forward a notice of motion on August 22 indicating that he would be seeking council support to amend the existing ATV bylaw at the Sept. 12 meeting.
Lamers said he has been hearing from residents of Creemore and Dunedin who want ATV restrictions lifted in order to gain access to trails and core services.
The ATV bylaw, passed in 2020, restricts off-road vehicles from all roads and road allowances south of
County Road 9 to Township of Mulmur and all roads and road allowances west of County Road 42 and County Road 142.
Lamers is hoping to open access east or north of Creemore. ATVs are not allowed on county roads but access to municipal roads is at the discretion of municipal politicians.
Lamers explained that he is bringing the amendment forward on behalf of people who don’t want to have to trailer their ATVs, and leave vehicles parked at access points. He said he has heard from a couple dozen people over the past year or so.
“It’s been two years since we passed the bylaw and we haven’t had any problems in Creemore,” said Lamers.
“There’s all kinds of four wheelers in Creemore and they need access to get out of Creemore without having to load them.”
In August, Clearview’s CAO John Ferguson reported to council that the OPP responded to a total of 20 complaints in the past year, of which 17 were classified as non-criminal and two resulted in charges (one was classified as “other” with the outcome determined at the discretion of the OPP).
Clearview’s bylaw enforcement department responded to a total of six complaints in the past year, including driving over the end of someone’s driveway, driving on street late at night, parking on front lawns, and driving in the township parks. “Overall, it would be better if there were no incidents whatsoever. With that said the bylaw and OPP recorded infractions have been relatively low in number,” reported Ferguson.
Lamers said it’s mostly about trail access but people are looking to use their four-wheelers to shop in town. “It’s time to open it up to the public so that everyone in Clearview has access to the trails, not excluding the ones who are in town that are avid ATV riders,” said Lamers. “It’s time to carry it on and get the people what they want.”
Lamers said he is expecting a good debate and a close decision on Sept. 12.