The Prairie Village City Council’s Committee of the Whole voted 7 to 4 Monday to change proposed restrictions on when private property construction can occur, in an effort to address noise concerns.
The new restrictions under consideration would allow construction from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day — including holidays. From May 15 to Sept. 15, construction could start at 7 a.m. weekdays to reduce risks to construction workers during hot weather. The earlier start time during the summer would not apply to holidays.
The measure could return to the full council for consideration as early as Sept. 8.
The council took up the issue two years ago amid a wave of teardown-rebuild projects throughout Prairie Village. The city’s current ordinance against disturbing the peace allows construction is as follows:
- 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday
- 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. Friday
- 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday
- 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday
Ward 3 Councilmember Tucker Poling said allowing construction to start at 7 a.m. from May 15 to Sept. 15 was important for workers’ health and keeping projects on time. Allowing construction until 9 p.m. “is unreasonably late.”
William Ruder, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, said that in addition to affecting workers’ safety, prohibiting an earlier start time could extend a project’s completion time up to three months, which would increase projects costs, home prices and property taxes.
Ward 2 Councilmember Inga Selders said she wanted an ordinance that would prohibit construction on 10 holidays a year. Ward 1 Councilmember Jori Nelson agreed, “because our residents need a reprieve.” But Ward 4 Councilmember Piper Reimer said that “as a homeowner, those are the times we have to get those projects done.”
Ward 6 Councilmember Terrence Gallagher said most roofers will stay later to finish a roof or prevent rain damage and suggested considering a clause that would allow construction during daylight hours in such cases.
“I know if I was putting a roof on, I’d want them to get that finished in one day,” he said.
Teardown Trend’s Effects on Trees
Tree Board members Frank Riott and Kevin Dunn asked the council to direct city staff to develop regulatory language and procedures to protect trees during construction projects. The full council unanimously approved the request.
Riott listed several positive attributes trees provide a community, including their cooling effect, ability to increase property value, and to serve as a habitat for wildlife.
“We ought to be treating these trees like public assets,” he said.
Riott cited studies showing that mature trees are valued at more than $30,000 over their lifetimes but cost one-fourth that amount to maintain, and other studies show 10 times the return on value.
Construction projects can damage trees’ feeder roots, which extend 6 to 8 inches down into soil and laterally sometimes two to three times the canopy area, Riott said. These roots are younger and less durable than support roots, which anchor trees and provide structural support.
Feeder roots “provide critical water, oxygen and nutrients for the tree,” Riott said. “They live in that little air space in the soil.”
Soil compaction from heavy equipment, construction materials and debris up against or near trees deprive them of oxygen, water and nutrients. Resulting tree damage can occur up to three, five or even 10 years later.
“But what happens is the construction contractors come in here, they build the house, it looks great, they turn it over to the owner, the tree’s in perfectly good condition, they leave, get their money and they walk away and then a year, two years, three years later you see in the community these die-backs and these trees’ deaths,” Riott said.
Riott and Dunn asked the council to:
- Protect public trees always and large diameter private trees (those with a diameter greater than 30 inches at 4 and a half feet from the ground).
- Pass and enforce an ordinance that would penalize violators by requiring payments into a fund to replace trees if removed with permission.
- Require use of flexible construction fences around trees’ drip lines to protect most feeder roots.
- Research and use tree ordinances in Mission Hills and Fairway as guides.
- Require that building contractors review the ordinance and sign their assent to abide by it when obtaining a permit.
- Follow standardized tree protection best practices from the International Society of Arboriculture and from Fairway’s ordinance.
