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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 10522 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10522 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 15, 2020 Page 1 of 2 i i7 Y SUBJECT: CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC NOISE AND TRAVEL ROUTE r6 rn Yg7'3 This Informal Report is in response to City Council's request to receive information on construction activities and truck traffic as it relates to the noise ordinance. Fort Worth resident John Schedler expressed concern at the October 20t"and 27t" City Council Meetings over construction truck traffic noise along Chapin Road west of Chapel Creek Boulevard resulting from nearby residential and infrastructure construction. Two new subdivisions, Chapin Village Phase 1 and Palmilla Springs Phase 5, are currently being built north and south, respectively, of Chapin Road and west of Chapel Creek Boulevard. This report will address the following topics: 1) the city's noise ordinance as it relates to construction traffic; and 2) construction truck travel routes. Noise Ordinance §23-8 Construction work is regulated by the City of Fort Worth Code of Ordinances §23-8 NOISE. Unreasonable noise for construction work is defined by subsection (d)(2)c. Noise created by construction work within 300 feet of an occupied residential structure involving the erection, excavation, demolition, alteration or repair of any building, structure or flatwork is prohibited as follows: before 7:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, and before 9:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. Saturday - Sunday. Construction work, per se, is undefined. An offense occurs when the construction noise is such volume, intensity or duration so as to disturb a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities. Section 23-8(e)(6) exempts vehicular transportation from the requirements of the Noise Ordinance. The water, sanitary sewer, paving, drainage and street lights improvements infrastructure associated with Palmilla Springs is under construction by a developer pursuant to a Community Facilities Agreement (CFA) and inspected by Transportation and Public Works (TPW). This work is subject to the noise regulations described above. Construction inspection staff assigned to the Palmilla Springs subdivision have not observed the contractors working outside of the allowed timeframe but will continue to monitor for this violation. However, construction trucks often stage at the construction site prior to 7 a.m., so as to begin construction of the homes right at 7 a.m. The Police Department has responded to several noise complaints but have not issued citations as there was no obvious violation of the noise regulations. The City does not consider staging as construction work. The contractors have been notified of the noise complaints and instructed to stage further from the occupied homes, if possible. Chapin Village infrastructure is complete. There are now a number of homebuilders and their various contractors building homes in the subdivision. Again, this appears to be an issue where trucks are staging prior to 7 a.m. Complaints regarding noise have been directed to the Police Department as a non- emergency issue. Truck Usage Chapin Road runs from east to west and is a combination of four-lane and two-lane roadways located north of 1-30 and west of Chapel Creek Boulevard, a designated commercial delivery route. Chapin Road is the primary access for trucks and construction traffic to serve the new developments of Chapin Village Phase 1 and Palmilla Springs Phase 5. There is no viable route to reach the construction site other than Chapel Creek Boulevard to Chapin Road at this time. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10522 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 15, 2020 Page 2 of 2 i i7 Y SUBJECT: CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC NOISE AND TRAVEL ROUTE r6 rn Yg7'3 Despite the fact that Chapin Road is not a designated as a truck route or commercial delivery route, City Code Chapter 22 at Article IV TRUCK TRAFFIC, §22-112 and 112(a), provides clear direction regarding usage by commercial vehicles, including construction trucks. Per the Code, a truck can use a street not designated as "truck" or"commercial delivery" route if it is going to a local destination/point of origin or when fulfilling the purpose for which the vehicle is then being operated where there is not a designated route available. TPW and Police will continue to monitor and enforce the noise ordinance. Citizens are encouraged to call the non-emergency Police phone number at 817-392-4222 to report suspected violations. If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Prieur, Transportation and Public Works Assistant Director, at 817-392-6035 or Assistant Police Chief Robert Alldredge at 817-392-4131. David Cooke City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS