To: The Honorable Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor of Seattle, Seattle City Council, The Honorable Sally Bagshaw, City Council Board Member, Nathan Torgelson, Director, SDCI, and Seattle Department of Construction and Inspection, Public Resource Center

Reject WSDOT request for a 1-year noise variance for Viaduct Demolition

WSDOT is proposing a noise variance be granted them to be able to work 7 days per week, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at night EVERY day of the week for one year. This will be extremely loud and disruptive demolition noise as they take down the viaduct. They are also asking to be able to work through the night, with minimal noise, which as we all know - will echo and travel exponentially at night. If this variance is granted, we will have a minimum of six months, but more likely a full year of non-stop noise. Additionally, we discovered at the public meeting that the State did not even ask for proposals that would only be during the daytime hours, hence negating the possibility of more workers, fewer hours. This is unacceptable.

Why is this important?

We are appealing SDCI's decision to grant the noise variance requested by WSDOT for the Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition. We have until 29 March 2018 to file our appeal. We ask that the noise variance is rescinded and ask the City to consider other options than working through the night. We also ask that any future noise variance application contain all the details of what will be done to mitigate the noise and not refer to a framework of possible actions. Additionally, there should be real-time public access to noise monitoring and transparency with respect to complaints with a review board consisting of representatives from the community affected.