Norval’s famed venue that was once home to Nashville North is hosting events again, but local residents aren’t happy about it.
Excessive noise, illegal parking and congestion in the village are just some of the allegations they level against the new occupants.
The property at 530 Guelph St. has been the scene of many large private events both in its parking lot and inside the building in recent months, drawing hundreds of people to the sleepy hamlet.
“The noise has been (allegedly) excruciating and local residents have reported it,” said Norval Community Association president Kathy Gastle.
Nashville North was once a popular country-western-style nightclub in the hamlet. It went up for sale for $3.9 million in 2020. Kashmir Singh-Nizzar is the new owner of the property. HaltonHillsToday met with Singh-Nizzar to address residents’ concerns, but he declined to comment.
Richard Marshall, who runs a business from the venue called 416AndTheCity, told HaltonHillsToday that he leases the property. 416AndTHeCity is an event planning, recording studio and public relations company that Marshall said is “doing things for the community” like hosting country dancing classes, creating jobs and providing “economic relief to a lot of businesses.”
When asked about residents' complaints regarding excessive noise, Marshall said, "We have actually lowered the sound on many occasions. So when the police come around and [tell] us that the noise level is [high], we actually lower the sound."
Marshall called grievances over clogged-up parking lots and streets with parked cars false and added that his business maintains “a capacity and we go by the capacity. We live by what we do.”
During an event at the Guelph Street property in late August, Gastle alleges patrons were “partying all over the entire village.”
“There were conflicts happening. Police were called, vehicles were towed. It was chaos."
Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) confirmed that an incident matching this description occurred on “Aug. 28, 2022 at approximately 5:30 p.m.”
“Police did attend, however no charges were laid in relation to that occurrence,” said HRPS spokesperson Cst. Ryan Anderson.
When asked about the Aug. 28 event, Marshall said that was a charity event held by another company. He countered Gastle’s claim about patrons “partying all over the entire village” and contended those in attendance stayed in the parking lot of Nashville North.
That August event was planned by a joint business called 2GetherAs1, consisting of two other businesses, MrRonDukes and Mz Tikki. Both are event promoters. Ron Dukes confirmed that his company held the event and rented out the space from the owner. He says he couldn't have known about the parking issues as he was on the Nashville North property on Aug. 28 and "wouldn't know what happened outside of the event."
"I can understand if someone's car got towed. I can also understand if they were parked somewhere that they weren't supposed to be. I can understand both sides."
"Had those individuals come to the property and said, 'Hey guys, you have to be moved,' from our standpoint, I would have made sure that those [cars] are moved," Dukes added.
He also said it was never his intention to disrupt people living in Norval.
"That's why we do it during the day, when we are allowed to meet certain noise parameters."
Anderson said police have received "a number of noise complaints over the past couple months related to events taking place at the site formerly known as Nashville North."
"In response, the HRPS has dedicated additional resources and increased uniform officer presence in the vicinity of the establishment," he said.
“The HRPS has also been operating increased RIDE programs in the area with community safety being of the utmost importance."
Marshall alleges people have called the police on his business "for no reason," and that he has experienced racism in Norval.
"We literally just put our heads down and just focus on the goal," he said. "The goal is to just have an entertainment complex.”
Residents have also looked into the venue’s liquor licence status and expressed unease about the legality of the events.
Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario spokesperson Raymond Kahnert said that "notices of proposal (NOP) were issued to revoke special occasion permits for events held at 530 Guelph Street over the last few months" for violations of the Liquor Licence and Control Act. An NOP is a document detailing allegations and actions to be taken against a business owner.
Marshall said he can't comment on this “until we have a full investigation on why we are (allegedly) being harassed and our licences being revoked.”
Town Clerk Valerie Petryniak has issued two letters to the frustrated residents that indicated “the Town is in the process of laying charges for noise and zoning violations.”
In an accompanying FAQ letter, the Town clarified that the zoning for the venue "does not permit a private event club.”
“Municipal parking enforcement staff will continue to attend and ticket any and all vehicles parked illegally," reads the Town FAQ. "If required, vehicles will be towed from various locations to ensure access to residential properties and/or streets is maintained."
