Weekends and holidays are supposed to be a time of respite from noise associated with major home construction in Portola Valley, but an apparent loophole in the town’s noise ordinance is allowing residents to continue the construction work on their own.
The ordinance restricts ordinary construction activities to weekdays, but allows residents and “immediate family members” to “maintain or improve” their homes and properties on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Planning Manager Leslie Lambert said she knows of at least six homes in town where residents and “family members” are doing weekend construction work on a new home, remodel or addition.
“They’re property owners who are acting as their own general contractors,” Ms. Lambert told the Town Council at its June 11 meeting. “There’s a lot of noise in the valley every day of the week.”
Some of these residents are reportedly describing their co-workers as “cousins” when reminded of the ordinance’s restrictions on family members, Town Attorney Sandy Sloan said.
A subcommittee of town officials has been considering amendments to the noise ordinance since 2006. Ms. Lambert was asking the council for recommendations prior to the subcommittee’s June 17 meeting.
One idea with some appeal: narrow the ordinance’s exception to projects that do not require a building permit. Major remodels, additions and new homes all require a permit.
Council members agreed that an amended ordinance should be worded so as not to restrict residents who work during the week from using their weekends for home improvement. Days off are “critical” for these people, Councilman Richard Merk said.
Councilman Steve Toben, an experienced mediator, saw a role for the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, which offers mediation services.
“It’s precisely that kind of solution that we should be proposing in this town, not one that’s overly broad,” Mr. Toben said. “It’s all about living in a neighborhood and being in a situation with folks around you.”
