琉璃神社 council has gone with a construction industry proposal in tweaking the city鈥檚 noise bylaw.
Currently, the bylaw allows noise between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., Monday to Sunday and all statutory holidays.
At its Monday (July 8) meeting, council approved restricting noise between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and stat holidays, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. There is no change from Monday to Friday.
Councillor Rick Webber, who brought up the issue early this year, said he appreciated the industry feedback.
鈥淪ome of it is a little contradictory from each other, some of it seems a tad hysterical to me.鈥�
However, he added there was a major point that resonated with him.
鈥淚t could鈥nadvertently increase the cost of building a house and we don鈥檛 want that, it鈥檚 already so expensive in 琉璃神社.鈥�
Coun. Luke Stack said council鈥檚 choice was the right one.
鈥淚t does not disrupt our construction industry so much that they can鈥檛 get the job done.鈥�
Having construction end at 4 p.m. on weekends and stats was a big win for Coun. Gord Lovegrove.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e (the construction industry) made the suggestion. They鈥檙e are partners in solving our affordability crisis and housing supply.鈥�
A June 6 letter from the Canadian Home Builders鈥� Association Central Okanagan (CHBA-CO) to the city pointed out that construction projects have tight deadlines, and delays could impact completion dates and increase costs.
Coun. Maxine DeHart pointed out there are bad actors in any industry that don鈥檛 follow the rules.
鈥淲e have to watch that and if we get a complaint we have to act on it,鈥� she said.
Staff also has the authority to grant variances to the bylaw where appropriate, such as during extreme heat events.
