Commission debates late-night construction hours at Bentley site after resident complaints

Residents and commissioners raised concerns about extended construction hours authorized for the Bentley site, including work on weekends and late evenings. Commissioner Joseph said neighbors complained that nighttime activity disturbed expected quiet hours and asked the commission to revisit the city manager's authorization process. "My intent was not to block it," Joseph said, asking instead that staff review what constitutes reasonable hours for deliveries and noisy operations.

The city manager and building officials described the rationale for modified hours: allowing certain work at nonpeak times can avoid multi-week lane closures and reduce total duration. Staff noted the approvals are typically granted for three months at a time and include a requirement for a 24-hour representative to respond to complaints. The manager warned that restricting hours without alternative staging could extend construction timelines and increase neighborhood disruption over a longer period.

Commissioners sought details on specific activities performed during extended hours (concrete pours, form removal and crane operations) and urged staff to monitor noise, enforce the 24-hour contact protocol and revoke extended hours if significant problems recur. Several commissioners asked staff to return with a clearer set of allowable activities and narrower hour windows for nighttime work where feasible.

Staff said they would continue to monitor complaints and enforce conditions of the permit; commissioners directed staff to return with a specific proposal if recurring complaints persist.