CYPRESS : Warehouse Builders to Enforce Work Hours

After repeated protests to the City Council about early-morning construction noise, builders of warehouses in the Valley View Street area have agreed to follow strict work hours, officials said this week.

Two warehouses are under construction, both vigorously opposed by nearby residents, and controversy about one of the buildings triggered a recall campaign against three council members. The election is set for Nov. 7.

Residents say the warehouse developers have allowed subcontractors to start work very early in the morning, resulting in noise that awakes people and disrupts the neighborhood.

City Manager Darrell Essex said at Monday’s City Council meeting that he and other city staff members have been working to solve the noise problem.

“The problem, I believe, has been rectified,” Essex said. “Staff has had several meetings with the property owners.” The meetings resulted in the developers’ agreeing to enforce work hours, he said, so that no construction will begin before 7:30 a.m.

Some residents in the audience told the council they are still not satisfied with the city’s action. Tony Smith, a leader in the recall effort, said that police should fine the developers for their past noise violations.

City Council members directed Essex to give a follow-up report on the noise problem at the council’s next meeting, Sept. 25.