Councillors in the city’s executive committee were pleasantly surprised yesterday when they were told construction crews have agreed to clamp down on industrial noise.
David Aitkin, a manager who heads up the city’s bylaw complaints office, told councillors that industry has agreed after meeting with him to crack down on a problem that is flooding city hall with complaints from residents tired of hearing jackhammers or saws during strange hours of the day.
“What we actually found with the industry stakeholders is that there was already significant compliance,” Aitkin said.
“The industry recognized that bandit contractors are only a very small group of the contractors out there who are causing a lot of the noise problems.”
Some contractors also did not appear to be aware of their noise management responsibilities under the city’s current bylaws, admitted industry stakeholders in a city report.
“I didn’t think you would get that kind of voluntary report,” said Coun. Karen Leibovici who was surprised over the co-operation from the industry during yesterday’s meeting.
Workers are only allowed to build projects like homes and buildings during a 12-hour timeframe beginning at 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday under the city’s new rules.
Construction projects can also resume on Sundays and holidays between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
