BOARD MATTER

Supervisor Linda Q. Smyth

July 12, 2004

Mr. Chairman: Recently, I was contacted by one of my constituents after she endured the noise associated with 6.5 hours of night work (from 11 pm until 5:30 am) on Arlington Blvd westbound. Milling and paving are often done throughout our county and in this case, the constituent was fully supportive of doing this work at night.

However, in this case, only four days of notice were given to the community and to my office. It is my understanding that, as part of the noise variance being granted, staff suggests that the contractor "limit the amount of backing up of vehicles and equipment." Unfortunately, in the case to which I refer, much of the backing up noise occurred in the early hours of the morning and kept residents from sleeping.

I must note that the process by which Supervisors' offices participate in evaluating sections of road for night work is adequate. This motion serves only to evaluate and possibly refine the notification process for affected residents.

Therefore, I move that staff in the Department of Planning and Zoning evaluate the noise variance process as it relates to notification of affected residents and ask that the County Executive forward this evaluation to the Board.