NI R$F
E. SIEKER
13 December 2022 Re: A/C in Residential Side Setback
The residential side setback has been a designated buffer zone of quietness between neighbors for decades primarily because it is an area that is vulnerable to the magnifying and intensifying of all kinds of noises due to its tightly condensed space and echo chamber properties.
Plumbing or mechanical equipment has not been allowed into the residential side setback for very good reasons: they produce disruptive and disturbing nuisance noises all throughout the day and sleeping hours which prohibits the quiet use and enjoyment of a neighboring resident.
As well, this type of chronically interruptive noise has been proven to contribute to a whole host of mental health distresses and physiological disorders.
Since nearly all types of plumbing and mechanical equipment have been allowed into all the other existing setbacks, there is no reasonable and rational justification in making modifications or allowances for them to now be installed into the residential side setback.
Personal experience with neighbors who have installed noise making machines into their side setback has given me first hand knowledge of what it is like to live next door to an air conditioner unit and a water softener machine that goes on and off all night long. It was completely unnecessary and illegal for these machines to be installed into the side setback. As you probably already know, it took ten years of wrangling with the City to have the air conditioner be relocated into the rear setback where it has no longer been a nuisance. And, thankfully, the water softener was relocated inside of the garage restoring peace and quiet.
Allowing all sorts of noise making plumbing and mechanical equipment to be installed into the residential side setback is not a wise, fair or logical decision. There is presently a variety of other areas for these kinds of equipment to be located, yet there are only drastic and inequitable solutions available for the adversely impacted neighbor, such as having to to close windows which cuts off the flow of fresh air, or not being able to enjoy the quiet use of a room for any of its intended uses. This puts the negatively affected neighbor at a burdensome, stressful and unfair disadvantage, to say the least.
Residents have not been unduly restricted nor prevented from installing their air conditioner units into other readily available areas around and throughout their residence and are not suffering because of that very fact. If the City Council approves air conditioner units and other noise making machines into the residential side setback, the ones who unequivocally will suffer, are those unfortunate next door neighbors who just want to enjoy and live in a peaceful, quiet, healthy and less stressful residential environment.
Thank you, Elaine Sieker
1 NI R$F
D. SIEKER
13 December 2022 Re: Machines in Residential Side Setback There are some trends in life we can embrace, some we can alter and some we can reverse.
One trend we most certainly cannot ignore, much less nurture, is the growing trend of dismissiveness and disregard for our fellow neighbor and the diminishment of our individual rights by one strata of our society over another.
We are all familiar with the original Golden Rule, "treat others as we want to be treated", and the other Golden Rule, "he who has the gold makes the rules". This very Council, to its great credit, takes seriously its duty and responsibility to debate issues brought before it and has made and contributed to decisions that benefitted the whole of our City's residents over the favor of just a few.
Tonight, this Council will debate and possibly decide if a/c units should be allowed into our residential side setbacks.
We might be all well served to remember those former City Planners and City Councils that understood the necessity and importance of having quiet buffer zones between neighbors.
These sound and sage prescriptions were and still are, true and valid today.
Right now, Redondo residents have a variety of viable options as to where an a/c unit can be installed around or in their home. There is the rear setback, setbacks between buildings, front setbacks, rooftops and portable indoor units that can be moved from room to room.
Right now, how many options in comparison, does the neighbor whose bedrooms or living rooms, which are only a few feet away from the side setback have when an a/c compressor is going off and on throughout the day or night and can be heard through open or closed windows? Move into another room, (if it is even possible?), or just entirely move? Not many options here folks," just move along". Why should the comfort of one neighbor be allowed to distress and diminish the quality of life of another neighbor when so many other options to place an a/c unit elsewhere exist?
Still another looming negative for allowing a/c units in residential side setbacks is the problem of enforcing decibel limit violations. Presently, the Police Department has neither the sound recording equipment or the trained personnel or the discretionary funds to acquire, maintain and annually certify both in order to defend challenges by residents receiving citations for decibel limit violations. The financial commitment to institute such a program much less the legacy cost of maintaining it are just not warranted.
Therefore, in conclusion, let's remember that old but wise adage, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Keep the residential side setback as it is now, free and clear of all noise making machinery.
Thank you, Douglas Sieker