Has Kelowna’s booming construction become too noisy?

As Kelowna’s construction boom continues, so does the noise level, especially for people who live close to projects underway in existing residential neighbourhoods.

City councillor Rick Webber has given notice that he’ll ask city staff to look at whether construction work hours can be changed to give some residents a little peace.

However, the construction industry argues changes could compromise worker safety, cause delays and impact affordability in the middle of what is a housing crisis.

Currently, building work is allowed 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

“I was surprised how wide-open construction hours are in Kelowna,” Webber told Kelowna10. “It’s 365 days a year, stat holidays, everything.”

Webber said because nearly all development is infill lots or happening around existing residential areas, it’s likely most residents will at some point see construction around their homes in any given neighborhood.

Residents 'just need a break'

He said he’s getting letters and emails from residents who say they just need a break from the incessant noise.

“A break could be just don’t work Sundays, or stat holidays,” he suggested as possible examples. He said it would be up to city staff to bring back some recommendations.

Webber said he’s heard from some residents who’ve had to deal with noise virtually every day for years, whether it’s from a duplex going up next door or a large condo development.

“You look at a city like Vancouver - and no one has ever said they’re short on construction there – but they have more limits than Kelowna has,” he explained.

Vancouver’s noise control bylaw says construction on private property must be carried out between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays. Construction is not allowed Sundays or holidays.

Webber insists he’s fully supportive of the local construction sector.

“We would never introduce something that would greatly slow it down. You have to protect the construction workers; you have to keep the industry going... but people just need a break of some sort.”

Changes would be 'step backwards'

Meanwhile, Daniel Winer, the Executive Director of the Central Okanagan branch of the Canadian Home Builders Association said there would be multiple negative knock-on impacts of any workday hour changes.

“If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” he told Kelowna10, noting a delayed start to the day would see workers spending more time in the peak Okanagan heat in the summertime, risking their safety.

He also argued the $31.5 million recently given to Kelowna by the federal government as a fast-track incentive to create almost 1,000 more homes, could be jeopardized.

“Kelowna has established itself as a leader... and that federal money is backloaded. We need to hit housing targets in order for the city to receive that money,” he said.

Winer said the sector is Kelowna’s biggest economic driver with 10,000 local jobs.

“I truly feel the building and development community is working with neighbourhoods in mind with a long-term perspective in mind,” he said. “We’re in the middle of a housing crisis... we need to throw every single tool at the problem,” he said noting changes to the workday would “take us a couple of steps backwards.”