PHOENIX — The City of Phoenix is proposing a drastic change when it comes to its noise ordinance and if you live near ongoing construction, you could be hearing the sounds from the work a bit earlier.
And at least one community isn’t happy about it.
“Beep, beep, beep, and it’s non-stop and it will make you crazy,” said Michelle, a resident nearby construction.
It’s a sound that plays out day in and day out near Michelle’s Ahwatukee home. The construction of new homes has been going on for nearly two years.
“When the building first started, the companies ignored the noise ordinance and would routinely show up anywhere from 3:30 to 5:00 in the morning,” said Michelle.
Needless to say, sleep has been hard to come by for most in her community.
“You can’t get away from it and it’s just a really hard way to wake up in the morning,” said another neighbor, Kimberly.
Both Michelle and Kimberly have made countless calls to the city, and after about a year, construction crews were told they’d have to abide by the current noise ordinance which says crews can begin work at 7 a.m. in the winter and 6 a.m. in the summer on weekdays.
The city is now proposing an amendment to that ordinance where the start time would be 5 a.m., year-round.
The City of Phoenix says it would help construction workers deal with heat in the summer months and hopefully finish projects quicker.
While Michelle sympathizes with those reasons, she says other larger cities with harsher climates get by.
“Los Angeles, Manhattan, the city that never sleeps, and Houston all observe start times year-round,” said Michelle.
She worries about parents dealing with newborns, those with chronic ailments who need proper rest.
Studies also show sleep is one of the most critical components of good health. They hope the city will hear their plight and reconsider their plans.
“You may not care about somebody else’s backyard, when it’s in your backyard, you will care,” said Kimberly.
The city is still in the process of drafting the proposal and will seek the public’s input prior to the new ordinance being passed.
You can contact Krista Rippee with the City of Phoenix at Krista.Rippee@phoenix.gov to provide feedback on the proposal.
