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Approving the application of Xcel Energy for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for Xcel Energy infrastructure/utility work on the CP RR Crossing at Eagle Parkway and Shepard Road, from Thursday, May 7 to Thursday, May 21, 2026, on Eagle Parkway from Shepard Road to North Chestnut Street.
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WHEREAS, Chapter 293 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code was enacted to regulate the subject of noise in the City of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, § 293.10 provides for the granting of variances from the sound level limitations contained in § 293.07 upon a finding by the City Council that full compliance with Chapter 293 would constitute an unreasonable hardship on the applicant, other persons, or on the community; and
WHEREAS, Xcel Energy ("Applicant"), represented by Jason Alley, Principal Distribution Designer, who has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has applied for a variance for a sound level limit of 60.6 dBA at no specified distance from the sound source, to present amplified sound on Eagle Parkway from Shepard Road to North Chestnut Street; and
WHEREAS, in order to meet required completion dates and to minimize disruption to businesses, the public, and adjoining property owners the Applicant has requested a variance for the hours of 7:00 am to 7:00 pm during set-up, with continuous operation (twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week) while tunneling through RR Zone A; and
WHEREAS, if the Applicant is not granted a variance, then the Applicant will not be able to operate general construction/demolition equipment and domestic power tools to perform infrastructure/utility work on Eagle Parkway from Shepard Road to North Chestnut Street; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Safety and Inspections has reviewed the application and has made recommendations regarding conditions for the variance. Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby grants a variance to Xcel Ener...
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