Supervisor aide briefs BIC on proposed emergency construction‑noise ordinance seeking tenant accommodations

Andy Mullen, legislative aide to a District 2 supervisor, presented a concept for an emergency ordinance aimed at reducing construction impacts on occupants sheltering at home. He said the draft is intended to preserve construction while creating a mandatory negotiation space for occupants and builders to agree on accommodations when construction transcends a neighbor’s living envelope.

Mullen said the office is revising the original draft after weeks of stakeholder meetings and suggested possible amendments: thresholds for acceptable accommodations (one suggestion was no more than 10% of base rent as compensation), mandatory communication plans, limits on hours or consecutive days of disruptive work, and caps that would trigger increased accommodation. He said the draft would cover buildings with more than four units and currently is framed as an emergency ordinance that would take effect immediately upon passage (60‑day duration) and requires eight Board of Supervisors votes.

Commissioners pressed on whether the legislation would define reasonable accommodation, how broadly it would apply (tenants versus all occupants), whether small builders and the Residential Builders Association had been consulted, and whether the BIC would be asked to endorse the legislation. Mullen said the sponsor’s office is seeking broad stakeholder support and expects additional amendments before scheduling the item for committee.

Mullen offered to return to the commission with more finalized language after additional outreach and asked commissioners for written questions to help drafting.