Introduce Ordinance #15-17 Amending City Code Chapter 105 (Buildings and Building Standards) Related to Allowable Hours of Construction

This case has been updated on 10/26/15. There was a typo in the ordinance that left a previous reference to a 9:00 stop time that has now been removed. Additionally, minutes from the August 25, 2015 City Council Meeting and October 15, 2015 Planning Commission Meeting have been added as reference.

The purpose of this case is to consider adding language to the City Code section related to allowable hours of construction. The proposed ordinance, as previously reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council, leaves the overall hours of construction the same, but adds language that clarifies that the City can negotiate lesser hours as needed through the Development Agreement process.

The City of Ramsey has the code as listed below for construction hours within the city. The reason for this possible amendment to the Code is due to the number of concerns that have been raised to City Council regarding the time limits and to address some of the public perception of the listed hours.

The question was most recently raised during the review of a Major Subdivision.  Residents have had concerns with the hours listed as the maximum allowance, not necessarily being the standard hours of construction that most contractors choose to use. The Developer of Harvest Estates, for example, negotiated construction hours to stop at 8:00 p.m. instead of the maximum stopping time of 10:00 p.m.

This contrasts with the the construction of Fire Station Number No. 2 which is nearby in the same neighborhood and has a ending construction time of 10:00 p.m. Based on discussion in a previous Planning Commission meeting, the goal of this amendment has been to look at the possibly of introducing wording to negotiate an earlier stopping time for construction and creating exemptions built in for public improvement projects.

This case is being handled as part of normal Staff duties.

A public hearing was held with the Planning Commission on October 15, 2015 in which a recommendation for adoption was approved.

Motion to introduce Ordinance #15-17 Amending City Code Chapter 105.