Breathing Easier During Construction

As many of my constituents affected by recent construction and demolition will attest, that is unacceptable. Nuisance causes shortness of breath, eye irritation, and, especially for asthmatic residents, potentially life-threatening long-term respiratory issues. Moreover, it inconveniences property owners with increased cleaning and filter replacement costs. This motion seeks to explore giving the Chief Building Officer stronger enforcement powers against property owners who flout their responsibility to the community by failing to implement adequate dust control measures. Potential enforcement options include revoking demolition or building permits or imposing penalties under the existing Dust By-law, which currently does not apply to multi-residential construction or demolition. Some amount of dust from construction or demolition is inevitable, and my motion recognizes this by preserving the existing exception in the Dust By-law for owners that implement dust control measures. Yet it is clear from the images sent to me by constituents of cars and homes being covered in dust and stories of asthmatic residents struggling to breathe that property owners, and the City, must do better.

the feasibility of amending the existing Dust By-law (Chapter 417 of the Municipal Code) to include multi-residential and commercial construction and residential demolition permits to allow enforcement against owners who fail to take the preventative measures against dust as described in § 417-2.2 paragraph B.