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Belvedere Residents Express Concerns Over Noise from New Condo Development

Residents of the Belvedere neighborhood in southeast Calgary have voiced their dissatisfaction regarding the persistent noise generated by an air-handling unit associated with a nearby condominium complex. This issue has been particularly pronounced since the unit was activated in early April, leading to significant disruptions for the community.

According to local resident Kent Henry, the air-handling system has been operating continuously, “24 hours a day,” which has raised alarms among nearby inhabitants. “Many of us approached the builder individually,” Henry recounted. “We were all given the same response: the engineers were aware of the sound levels, assessed them as being within design limits, and indicated that the city had approved it. Therefore, there’s nothing more they could do for us.”

Henry contrasted the noise from the air unit with the typical sounds of traffic at the nearby intersection of 84 Street and Belvedere Avenue SE, saying, “Street noise here is a part of life, and we accept that. However, if new high-occupancy buildings are to be constructed, it is crucial for the city to consider how they impact the surrounding communities.”

Dimitra Gray, another resident, echoes Henry’s sentiments and shared her struggles with enjoying outdoor spaces due to the noise. “When I tried to sit outside or talk on the phone, I found myself yelling just to be heard. It’s an incessant sound, akin to planes constantly landing,” she explained.

The City of Calgary has acknowledged the complaints from residents, indicating that an investigation into the matter is underway. In their statement, they also outlined the applicable noise bylaws, noting that acceptable sound levels in residential areas are capped at 65 dBA during the day and 50 dBA during nighttime, which is defined from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays. Henry, however, reported measuring sound levels exceeding 72 decibels after hours.

The developer of the new condo project, Laebon Rental Communities, has yet to respond to requests for comment, but Gray mentioned that the air-handling unit was shut off on April 11, shortly after media inquiries began. Both Henry and Gray hope that the city’s investigation will lead to solutions that mitigate the noise impact from the unit moving forward.

“Ideally, they could implement a system that reduces the noise, perhaps by operating the unit intermittently or by installing sound barriers,” Gray suggested, encapsulating the sentiments of many in the community who seek relief from the disruptive sounds of their neighborhood.

Source
globalnews.ca