Township of Blandford-Blenheim Council turned down a request for a noise by-law exemption that would have allowed earlier construction activities in Drumbo during the regular Council meeting on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
The request came from Froese Excavating Ltd. in relation to work associated with the Bloomfield Estates development.
The applicant was asking for an exemption to allow construction activities to begin at 6 a.m., one hour earlier than already permitted under the Township’s noise by-law.
In communication with the Township, John Froese, President of Froese Excavating Ltd., explained that the source of noise and vibration would be generated by “heavy construction equipment required to complete the project, including excavators, bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, compactors, generators, pumps, and other equipment necessary for excavation, grading, utility installation, and related construction activities.”
The noise control by-law, as is, currently allows construction equipment to operate between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays, but prohibits operation on Sundays or holidays.
According to a staff report submitted by Kevin Brandt, the Township’s Deputy Clerk/Communication Coordinator, Froese Excavating Ltd. had proposed a construction schedule of Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. as required, and holidays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., also as required.
“As outlined in the report, the applicant has advised that the earlier start time is intended to facilitate the safe and efficient completion of critical construction activities, improve coordination with utility companies and subcontractors, reduce impacts on traffic and surrounding infrastructure, and minimize the overall duration of the project,” Brandt told Council. “Since the report was prepared, the applicant has also indicated that they wish to highlight three additional considerations for Council: an earlier start would reduce travel time and associated environmental impacts for construction crews; it’s expected to shorten the overall construction schedule by approximately one week; and that beginning work earlier in the day provides greater flexibility to protect workers during extreme heat events by allowing crews to finish earlier when heat warnings are issued. The applicant has also reaffirmed their commitment to minimizing impacts by maintaining equipment, avoiding unnecessary idling, and limiting excessive noise wherever practical.”
In accordance with the by-law, public notice of the requested exemption was provided through the Township’s website and social media, giving residents an opportunity to submit comments before Council considered the application.
Brandt told councillors that the Township ultimately received no letters of support from the community.
“As of the date the report was finalized last week, staff have received 28 formal letters of opposition and no letters of support. The concerns raised generally related to increased noise, vibration, dust, traffic impacts on residents and nearby park users, potential precedent and procedural concerns,” he said. “As a verbal update to this report, since it was finalized, the clerk’s department has received an additional 24 formal letters of opposition as of 12 p.m. today. Staff have received a total of 52 formal letters of opposition and no letters of support.”
Mark Peterson, Mayor for the Township of Blandford-Blenheim, later said he wasn’t in favour of granting the exemption.
“I’ve had many, many people call me about this, I’m sure we all have as Council, but I know personally for me, I’m not in favour of it,” he said. “If the request was asking for a week’s time or something like that to maybe finish a project and get it done on time, then possibly. But to set a precedent like this when we have several more projects that are going to be coming down the pipe over the years, not just in this village, but all over the township, I’m not in favour of having it go forward.”
Councillor Nancy Demarest agreed with the Mayor.
“I think the residents have spoken loudly about what their preferences are here,” she said. “As much as I’m very pro-business, the company should have known about our noise by-law before they even started, and understanding what that might mean in terms of scheduling. So I would agree, I’m not in favour of making a change either.”
The vote to oppose the exemption then carried unanimously.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
