Imagine jackhammers right across the street from your house. Now imagine the noise dragging on for nearly a month.
That’s what some Black Mountain residents are facing.
The developer behind a new housing project along Stockley St. was told by the City of Kelowna that a rock face would have to be trimmed-back to improve the line of sight for an access road.
Residents only learned from the plans at a meeting on Saturday that was organized by the company contracted to do the excavation work. They have noise and safety concerns.
“If they really have to proceed with the work, fine let’s do it. But with all the things I understand, with the heavy excavator and the jackhammers and everything and being high up on a hill with heavy machinery that has no margins for error whatsoever and people on the street, I don’t see how the people can live here while they’re going to do this work,” said Stockley St. resident Steve Forman.
His wife, who works from home, says noise levels from large jackhammers can exceed 130 decibels. She argues the sound can be amplified during the cold winter months and it will be excruciating for residents if it goes ahead as planned.
Forman suggests that there are easier and much less costly alternatives, like reducing the speed limit or putting in a stop sign.
“We’re going to go to this expense and this environmental impact to improve a line of sight that was already approved and built on plan through city approvals?
“It’s absurd. Reduce the speed limit please. Put a stop sign in. Is there a simple solution to these complicated problems? Always is. Did they consider it? I have no idea,” said Forman.
The work appears to be on hold for now. The city has told residents there will be an on-site meeting with the developer and the contractor to clarify and respond to health and safety concerns.
“Because resident and public safety are our priorities, the obstructed left-turn sight line leaving the development needs to be shaved to improve visibility and prevent accidents. As required, the developer’s team has obtained all necessary permits and they are required by the conditions of the permits to assure that the health and safety of the residence and public are adhered to according to the best engineering practices, city bylaws, technical monitoring measures and WorkSafe BC regulations,” the city’s director of development services, Mo Bayat, told Castanet.
“The developer has the right to develop the land within those safe practices and like any other construction site, we all appreciate that this undertaking by the developer is creating some inconvenience for the adjacent residences for a short period,” adds Bayat.
