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The Docks club noise irks Islanders
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| itikia |
Docks club noise irks Islanders
Neighbours cite noise `torture'
Bid to slow licence irks Docks owner
KERRY GILLESPIE
CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF
When Toronto councillors decided to oppose the Docks nightclub's liquor licence renewal, they didn't know what they were doing, says Jerry Sprackman.
Councillors fire back that Sprackman, who operates the massive waterfront entertainment complex, has little regard for the city's laws — particularly the noise bylaw.
It is the latest round in a battle between the city and the Docks, an 8.4-hectare complex on the water's edge at Polson St. in the city's portlands.
On the islands, where many of the complaints about the Docks originate, residents say there are times when noise from the club feels like "torture."
It was relatively quiet when the Star visited Ward's Island Saturday night; a bass beat from the Docks was faint but clearly audible. "This is nothing, if this is all you could hear, there wouldn't be an issue," said Deborah French, who has lived on the island on and off for 43 years.
Residents live in dread of nights when the sound of a DJ yelling "Are you having a good time!" over the mike whips clubbers into a frenzy, French said. "You wake up with the bass beat pounding like it's inside your chest.
"You shouldn't have to live your life like that."
At its June meeting, city councillors voted to tell the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario that the city "opposes any renewal and/or expansion" of the Docks liquor licence, because it wasn't carrying on business "in accordance with the law and integrity and honesty."
The commission is reviewing the case and will decide this week whether the Docks will have to undergo a hearing before getting its liquor licence renewed for another three years.
"To smear our reputation like this, I am livid," Sprackman said.
"I'll tell you who doesn't run a good business, the city of Toronto, the way they vote on things. They don't know what the heck they're voting on," he said.
At the meeting, downtown councillor Pam McConnell stood up to ask council to approve item "J34," saying, "it's a liquor licence matter." It was approved without debate.
The Docks name wasn't mentioned and Sprackman — after speaking to several city councillors who say they didn't realize the seriousness of the vote — believes McConnell snuck the item through. "As far as I'm concerned, it is dishonest to the core," Sprackman said.
Not so, says McConnell (Ward 28, Toronto Centre-Rosedale).
Councillors were given copies of J34, which mentions the Docks in the first paragraph and what the city was doing.
Council can be hectic, with as many as 50 of these motions passing in a matter of minutes with little or no debate, but if councillors don't read their material before voting, that's not her problem, McConnell said.
It may seem harsh for the city to oppose a liquor licence for an establishment that attracts up to 10,000 people, but things aren't quite what they seem, said Councillor David Soknacki (Ward 43, Scarborough East).
"If council was under the impression the liquor licence board would get this letter and say `Right, let's close him down,' I think there would have been some discussion," he said.
The liquor licence is one of the few ways the city has to make a club act neighbourly, he said. The city isn't trying to put the Docks out of business, it just wants a hearing before the liquor board where issues of non-compliance with the noise bylaw can be raised, he said.
Sprackman's anger doesn't end with the councillors. He's got plenty left for the islanders.
Most of the noise complaints against the Docks — which have led to two court cases already with several more pending — come from people who live on Ward's and Algonquin islands.
"Is the lake just for people on the island ... or is it for the 5 million people who want to enjoy it in the summer? We're not living in Muskoka here," he said.
"When do we stop kowtowing to these people? Let's turn the island into a park for everybody and relocate those people, if they're so unhappy."
Though Sprackman may find some of the islands residents unreasonable, the terms of the nightclub's liquor licence require it to obey the noise bylaw.
The bylaw says: "No person shall make, cause or permit noise or vibration at any time which is likely to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the inhabitants of the city."
The Docks' history of noise bylaw charges is evidence it isn't following the rules, McConnell said. "You don't get to live in the neighbourhood and disturb the neighbours. That's not on. It's not on in Don Mills, it's not on in Rexdale, it's not on in downtown Toronto.
"Every human being has a right to sleep at night."
with files from Tarannum Kamlani |
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| StereoPrincess |
it's crazy that by-laws can pass without the councillors even reading the information.
pretty much they will see, club causing noise, no more license. pretty crazy when you thing about how many jobs that will remove and how much fun that will ruin. |
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| Form&Funktion |
| DAMN HIPPIES!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| starsearcher |
| The people living on the islands are a pain in the ass...I remember they had some stupid struggle vs city hall because they pay SO MUCH LESS than everyone else for something...they're always complaining...Besides the docks is not open that late anyway :rolleyes: |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by itikia
"We're not living in Muskoka here," he said.
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Exactly! These people should move away from the city if they want 100% peace and quiet.
| quote: |
"When do we stop kowtowing to these people? Let's turn the island into a park for everybody and relocate those people, if they're so unhappy."
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Yes then they can start paying rent and mortgages like the rest of the world. Did you know that those people who are bitching on Toronto Island signed a lease for 99 years? Did you know how much 99 years worth of rent is worth? $36,000 yes thats right... $364 dollars per year to have a house on toronto island.... So when these people actually start to pay into society then maybe they might have the right to bitch, but even then they have to remember that they live in a city.
Those island residents piss me off. They dont want a bridge, they dont want a nightclub, blah blah.... MOVE TO MUSKOKA!! :D |
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| rabbitjoker |
Everything irks islanders...
Boats, planes, clubs, traffic on the hiway, waterfront condos...
They should just be happy the city leases the property to them. |
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| starsearcher |
| Old Farts... |
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| ShadoWolf |
the Islanders have too much power
the governemnt better build the bridge tot he airport |
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| Tully |
The Docks is one of Toronto's major tourist attractions. There are many different types of people that pass through the complex for many reasons every day. The complex brings in lots of money into the city so it would be stupid to close it.
People have to realize that they are living in a major city and not a small town. It doesn't matter if you live on the island or on the mainland, you are still in the CITY of TORONTO!!!!
People need to stop complaining about so many things. What is the point of life if you are going to spend the whole time complaining.
PS
anyways no liquor licence wouldn't stop the parties...It wouldn't be the first club without one.:disbelief |
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| Lsv |
| hahah then the docks would turn into a giant all ages e fest:P |
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| starsearcher |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lsv
hahah then the docks would turn into a giant all ages e fest:P |
I think that already happened long time ago :p |
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| MarkT |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
Exactly! These people should move away from the city if they want 100% peace and quiet.
Yes then they can start paying rent and mortgages like the rest of the world. Did you know that those people who are bitching on Toronto Island signed a lease for 99 years? Did you know how much 99 years worth of rent is worth? $36,000 yes thats right... $364 dollars per year to have a house on toronto island.... So when these people actually start to pay into society then maybe they might have the right to bitch, but even then they have to remember that they live in a city.
Those island residents piss me off. They dont want a bridge, they dont want a nightclub, blah blah.... MOVE TO MUSKOKA!! :D |
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um...they do have "rent and mortgages like the rest of the world". That lease just covers the land their house is built on...they still have to pay for their house...they still have mortgages...and they still pay property taxes...they just don't own the land.
This is relatively uncommon in Toronto, but exists in other places too (Alberta has "homesteads" where there can be a different land owner vs. the home owner).
http://torontoisland.org/tica/
I'm not a fan of their bitching and complaining either...and the debate over whether or not they should be "allowed" to live there is another matter...but right now they do have a right to live there and the Docks has to obey whatever noise laws exist, just like any other establishment. Other clubs are sound insulated....can't the Docks can do the same? Just because they have a giant patio means that they ought to be able to ignore noise bylaws? |
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