The city is granting the developer of a new condo project a break from Delta’s noise control bylaw.
Council last week voted in favour of relaxing the current restrictions for contractors and trades working for Realco Holdings Ltd. for the 182-unit condo project on Nicholson Road, located next to the Scottsdale Mall.
It’s the first of what could be several requests granted to help keep construction moving during COVID-19 protocols.
In its request the company noted it is staggering construction activities on-site including the start and end times for the trades.
The staggering of work hours minimizes overcrowding on the site and provides additional space for proper physical distancing.
However, the company also requested a variance in the noise bylaw to allow construction to take place for two additional hours during weekdays and an additional three hours on Saturdays.
Currently the bylaw doesn’t permit construction to take place Sundays but the company was granted eight hours on those days.
Any work on Sundays would require specific approval by the city manager.
The planning department notes the contractor and trades would be asked to undertake quiet work as much as possible during the extended hours to minimize noise impacts to surrounding community.
Staff will monitor complaints and request additional noise mitigation measures should concerns arise.
A report to council notes the company noted that the extended hours would provide flexibility and it is not anticipated that the site would operate outside of the normal bylaw hours on a regular basis.
The Urban Development Institute last month requested Delta grant an extension on construction work hours so companies could implement additional staggered shifts while continuing to follow the mandated protocols of the provincial health officer.
In a memo to council at the time, staff noted there were no plans for Delta to extend construction hours.
“Extending construction hours may have noise impacts on residents of adjacent properties that are in proximity to construction sites particularly under the current circumstances where more people are at home for extended periods of time,” the memo states.
The health officer directed the construction industry to take specific precautions to minimize the risks of COVID-19 transmission at construction sites with additional precautions including, among other things, no more than 50 people in the same space in any circumstances and, where possible, employees maintaining a distance of two metres apart.
