Neighbor Reports Drunken Neighborhood Party

The Laurelhurst Blog Staff received this email from a neighbor:

On Friday night, April 24, some people toward the middle or north end of the long block on 44th Avenue NE between NE 41st Street and NE 38th Street apparently decided to “socially distance” by drinking and talking and listening to music in front of their house. 

At 3 a.m. the party was going strong, loud and louder in the way of drunks: “There’s no fucking place I’d rather be!” etc. etc. Even with double pane windows shut and many houses away from the revelry, the noise could be heard.

City Noise ordinance states:

• Sunday through Thursday: No noise between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• Fridays and Saturdays: Quiet between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. 

The full description of SMC 25.08.425 and Seattle Municipal Code 25.08.225 state" 

Construction and Maintenance noises cannot occur before 9 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays and must end by 10 p.m. 

"Residential disturbance" means a gathering of more than one (1) person at a residential property located in a single family or multifamily zone, as defined SMC Section 23.84.048 between the hours of 10:00 P.M., (11:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday nights) and 7:00 A.M., at which noise associated with the gathering is frequent, repetitive or continuous and is audible to a person of normal hearing at a distance of seventy-five (75) feet or more from the property. 

Penalties: Officers may issue a civil infraction (citation) on the spot. The fine for the infraction is $250. A person who continues to be in violation of this ordinance after receiving an infraction or who again violates this ordinance within 24 hours of receiving an infraction, can be charged with a crime. If found guilty, a judge may impose a maximum sentence of up to 180 days incarceration in jail, and/or a fine up to $500.

For more information go here. 

Reminder Of Seattle’s Noise Code

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC ) published this information in a recent newsletter:

Wondering About Seattle’s Noise Code? 

A lot of summertime fun happens outside. Please keep in mind that conversation and music carry and be a considerate neighbor!  

City Noise ordinance states:

Sunday through Thursday: No noise between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. 

Fridays and Saturdays: Quiet between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. 

Also SMC 25.08.425 states that Construction and Maintenance noises cannot occur before 9 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays and must end by 10 p.m.

The Laurelhurst Blog has received emails about neighbors doing construction and garden activities that generate noise before 10am on week-ends, waking up and disturbing close by neighbors.

One neighbor said:

We can appreciate our neighbor keeping up on maintaining his yard and hobbies, however it would be most appreciated if the neighbor would wait till at least  9 or 10am, rather than starting at 7am most week-ends, before using a variety of machinery. 

For more information about City Noise Codes go here. 

Many Neighbors Not Happy Over Loud Fireworks Going Off Every Night

We have received many emails about loud fireworks going off the last few nights.

Here is one email we received:

The last few nights we've been hearing firecrackers and fireworks being set off in the middle of the night between the hours of 2:00 - 2:00am.

Would you please kindly remind our neighbors, esp. those with kids, teenagers, and/or adult insomniac pyromaniacts that:

• Fireworks in the Seattle City limits are banned
• We must obey the noise ordinances for the health and sanity of the neighborhood and community
• The 4th of July is over!

Here is the City's Public Nuisance Noise Ordiance (25.08.280): "Public nuisance noise" means any any unreasonable sound which either annoys, injures, interferes with or endangers the

comfort, repose, health or safety of an entire community or neighborhood, although the extent ofdamage may be unequal.  
 

For more information on noise control go to the City's website here.

And I would highly encourage all neighbors to please call the police when hearing fireworks to stop this.

 

 

 

 

What Is The Loud Banging Going On During The Day?

Several readers have asked us what the loud banging is that goes on all day and where it is coming.  It can be heard from several miles away. 

Theresa Doherty, UW Assistant Vice President for Regional Affairs,  told us that this is the pile driving activity for the new UW track and it will continue through the end of the month.

Teresa told us that the hours for pile driving, per the Construction Management Plan approved by the City, are from
8-5pm on weekdays and 9-5pm on weekends in accordance with SMC 25.08.425.C.   Theresa told us that driving has typically started closer to 8:45am and typically stop at 4pm and that no pile driving has occurred on a weekend.

The City Department of Planning and Development project description document states that due to soil conditions and surface settlement, deep foundations are required to support the track on 18 inch-diameter steel pipe piles which will be driven with an impact hammer. Nine to ten piles are driven per day.

"Sensitive receptors, such as residential properties located northeast and northwest of the site, are located at 1,500 feet away from the noise source. Noise and vibration impacts from pile driving will impact surrounding properties; however impacts are not considered significant and will be mitigated by the City of Seattle Noise Ordinance," the document states.

Theresa told us that with regard to the noise variance, the permit obtained from DPD (Department of Planning and Development) says "that while there will be noise made by the pile driving, the noise made by this procedure does not exceed the City of Seattle noise threshold thus no noise variance is needed.  And the noise is 'mitigated' by the fact that DPD has  required the contractor to contain the work within certain hours which they are doing."

The project description says in part:

Land Use Application to allow the relocation of the University of Washington Athletic Department's track and field from Husky Stadium to the IMA sports field No.2 (approximately one-half mile north of the stadium). Project includes bleacher seating for 2,000, two buildings totaling 3,000 sq. ft. containing restrooms, concessions and storage, 7,585 cu. yds. of grading and the removal of up to 100 parking spaces in Lot E1.

The project decision states in part:

The development site is approximately six acres. A Type III wetland has been delineated in the southeast corner of the site and requires a 60 foot buffer. The portion of University Slough located across Canal Road from the development site is classified as a Type II stream. A 100 foot riparian management area extends west from the bank of the University Slough. A portion of the riparian management area is located on the eastern portion of the site.

As part of the project proposal the wetland buffer will be averaged allowing for a buffer reduction at the northwest edge of the wetland. The buffer will be increased along the western edge of the wetland. Buffer enhancement is required. The submitted enhancement plan includes regrading of the wetland buffer to decrease the steep angle of the slope created with
historic grading of the field, allowing for the planting of native trees and shrubs to replace the existing herbaceous vegetation.

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