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Resident asks for relief after hotel chiller installed 10 feet from home; council members push for barriers and enforcement
Summary
A Pine Oaks Estates homeowner told council members the new chiller at 5050 Woodway is producing constant noise that she said makes her sick and prevents sleep; council members recommended legal and engineering remedies, including acoustic barriers and permit review.
A homeowner near the 5050 Woodway development told the City Council on March 31 that a newly installed chiller system sited roughly 10 feet from her condominium has produced nonstop noise and related health impacts.
Kathleen Curran said the equipment runs "24/7 nonstop" and described sleep disruption, dizziness and panic attacks. She told council she had asked the developer and property management for mitigation and that police sound readings were taken but did not capture the noise because some were recorded before the chiller was fully operational.
Why it matters: The resident said the noise is a chronic health and quality-of-life issue and that previous noise readings and permit processes had not produced a solution. The property sits adjacent to multi-family housing where residents say they are directly affected by mechanical equipment sited very close to residential walls.
Council response and technical options: Council Member Dwight Huffman and others encouraged the resident to collect additional evidence and to seek legal assistance; Council Member Ed Pollard and Mayor Pro Tem Kasik Statham recommended engineering mitigations such as acoustic enclosures, sound blankets, barrier walls and acoustic louvers. Council Member Alcorn said code and permitting records would be examined; he noted prior cases where equipment lacked proper permits.
City staff said the developer reported earlier efforts to work with neighbors and that 50 50 Woodway had attempted to coordinate measurements and barrier installation but faced access problems. Council members pledged follow-up and offered to facilitate contact among the resident, City legal staff and department staff.
Ending: No immediate enforcement action or city-funded mitigation was approved at the meeting; council members and staff said they would continue working with the resident and the property's management to evaluate permits, test noise levels and pursue mitigation.
