Residents oppose Saturday construction in CSO 15 South project; noise-waiver request sent back to committee

The Lansing City Council held a public hearing on a proposed noise special permit for the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) 15 South project, during which residents described ongoing construction impacts and urged the council not to extend work onto Saturdays.

Mark Jones of Public Service introduced the project at an earlier Committee of the Whole meeting; the public hearing record opened on complaints and support submitted in writing (five in opposition, one in support). Council members recorded that the request will be returned to the Committee of the Whole on Feb. 24 for further consideration.

Residents who spoke at the hearing said the project has already affected quality of life. "I support the need to convert to CSO," Deb Mulcahy told the council, "What I don't see is the continual need to impact further with the activities as proposed with the waiver." She cited repeated heavy vibration, loud bangs that feel like an "earthquake," uncovered trucks creating dust and air-quality concerns, and traffic and staging problems on narrow neighborhood streets.

Peter Olalla, a resident of South Genesee, said he has not seen work of this intensity before and objected to increasing work from five to six days a week. Residents said they had filed prior complaints about uncovered loads and vehicle staging and questioned the local versus nonlocal origin of hauled materials.

City staff previously told the council the contractor's typical workday would start at 8 a.m. and run until sunset and that Saturday work could be part of the schedule pending weather and operational conditions. After public comment, the council directed the matter back to the Committee of the Whole for additional review on Feb. 24.

What happens next: the Committee of the Whole will revisit the noise-waiver request on Feb. 24; council members and staff did not vote to grant or deny the waiver at this meeting.