I. I CC 8/30/22
Re: Residential Side Setback Noise 30 August 2022
This council will soon be deciding what kinds of mechanical and plumbing equipment such as a/c units and the like, are to be allowed in residential side setbacks. I would like to present another concern this evening for your consideration before that decision is made, and that concern is of legacy cost.
Legacy costs can be more than just financial; they can be physical, psychological and quality of life issues as well.
This past March, our neighbor had a tankless water heater installed in their garage, and its mechanical exhaust vent was placed into and through the garage wall facing the side setback.
The original roof top vent used for a standard water heater was not used and I was told by the contractor that no noise would be coming through this vent. This proved to be untrue.
Everytime the tankless water heater is activated, a high pitched whistling sound emanates through this vent. This instrusive noise can be heard through our closed bedroom and living room windows, even much more when they are opened.
Once again, as we did concerning a/c units and water softening machines that were placed in both of our neighbors' side setbacks in past years, we contacted Code Enforcement, Building and Planning Department, the Director of Community Services, the City Attorney's office and finally, the City Manager and Police Department, seeking relief from this noise.
After nearly five months of waiting, we called back to the Planning Department and was told the tankless water heater and its vent were approved because its noise was under 50 decibels.
Ok, well, how was that decibel level determined if our City does not have any sound monitoring or sound recording equipment? Is the City just believing the manufacturer's claim for decibels produced by their equipment? These claims cannot be verified, much less trusted.
So now, we have a forever legacy noise to put up with, as will the next residents of our home will have to endure once we no longer reside here. Is that right? Is that fair, that one neighbor would have to endure any amount of noise for the sheer convenience of another neighbor, when there are clearly other viable alternatives for placing noise making mechanical or plumbing equipment somewhere else?
You must definitely know by now, that if the proposal to allow noise making mechanical and plumbing equipment such as air conditioning units and the like inside residential side setbacks is approved, it will cause unnecessary negative and divisive consequences between neighbors and lower the quality of life for residents who value peace and quiet as well as having fresh air coming into their open windows and doors. Thank you, Douglas Sieker 1 I. I CC 8/30/22
30 August 2022 Re: Residential Side Setback Noise
It has been alluded that no one should be able to tell a property owner what they can or cannot do with their own property. That ideology is misleading in that Redondo Beach has a Municipal Code full of rules and safety regulations ensuring that every resident's rights are not encroached upon whether they rent or own any type of property.
Reckless disregard as to where mechanical or plumbing equipment that makes noise is placed on ones property should not be anyone's right. All residents have a right not to have their quality of life infringed upon through the escalation and/or compounding of neighborhood noise pollution. All residents' mental and physical health and happiness should be upheld and respected equally especially when it comes to unwanted noise pollution emitted through mechanical and plumbing equipment such as is the case with air conditioner units and water softener machines.
All mechanical and plumbing equipment of any sort can be situated in those areas where there is the least negative noise impact to surrounding neighbors. The residential side setback has been duly noted as to have the most propensity for negative noise impacts and needs to be regarded as a sanctuary safe space that would otherwise be heavily impacted by noise.
Neighbors unduly subjected to residential side setback noise coming from mechanical or plumbing equipment. who have no recourse except to move, are being put at an unfair economic disadvantage. No one should have to bear the mental, physical and financial costs at the benefit of another. All residents need to be cognizant of how much they contribute to noise pollution and the City Council needs to be diligent, fair and mindful of the decisions made in this regard.
Noise pollution is an often overlooked and disregarded health concern, contributing to or exacerbating stress, anxiety, agitation and a whole host of serious illnesses and disease. No one should have to close all their windows to keep out an invading and intrusive noise for extended periods of time depriving them of fresh air, their mental and physical health and peace and quiet. This would not be quality of life living, nor would it be fair or equitable to those affected neighbors who would be forced to make adjustments they may not even be able to implement or to even be able to afford. Noise pollution results in our quality of life being impaired and our health and happiness being infringed upon and our Municipal Code should uphold against that being so in all ways possible.
Thank you, Elaine Sieker
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