Notice to Abutters
Special Noise Variance Permit
Cambridge, MA 02138
Dear Neighbors:
Please be advised that the contractor working on the Harvard Radcliffe Institute’s Greenleaf House renovation is applying for a special noise variance permit with the City of Cambridge License Commission to work extended hours overnight to complete necessary utility work in the road on Brattle Street in Cambridge.
Approval of this variance will allow the contractor to work on Monday, September 29, beginning at 10:00 pm overnight until 7:00 am on Tuesday morning, September 30. These extended hours are necessary to allow the contractor to complete water tie-in work to support plans for the renovation of Greenleaf House. The City of Cambridge will also be repairing a water valve in front of the property at the same time. Please note the contractor is seeking permission from the City to use Monday, October 6, as a contingency date for the work during the same hours (10pm to 7am) should they encounter unforeseen conditions underground or inclement weather that prevents them from working.
This application will be considered at the Cambridge Board of License Commissioners public meeting on September 25 at 10:00 a.m., which the public can attend remotely. If you wish to attend, please use this link register for the public meeting: https://cambridgema.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DLS3MRz7TMKAj3-gK4eNow . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the public meeting. Public comment for consideration by the Board can also be sent to noise@cambridgema.gov.
The following is a summary of the activities that will take place:
Utility Work Community Impacts:
•The contractor will be working in front of Greenleaf House at 76 Brattle Street doing utility work during regular daytime hours Monday through Friday beginning the week of Monday, September 15 through mid-October.
•Approval of the contractor’s noise variance application will allow the contractor to work overnight outside of 76 Brattle Street to perform a utility cutover from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am starting Monday, September 29, and ending Tuesday morning, September 30.
•Overnight on September 29, the City of Cambridge Water Department will also be doing utility work at a second location at the same time. The two work areas will be the intersection of Brattle Street and Appian Way at 64 Brattle Street and in front of Greenleaf House at 76 Brattle Street.
•During both the daytime and overnight utility work, Brattle Street between Mason Street and Appian Way will remain open and accessible to vehicles via one lane of traffic. Signage will direct pedestrians around the work zone on Brattle Street, while cyclists will be restricted from using Brattle Street between Mason Street and Appian Way. Police details will be in place to assist vehicular traffic.
•An excavator, compactor, generator, and saw cutter will be used for some of this activity and lighting will be in place in the work zones after dark.
•This utility work will generate some perceptible noise. Prior to the overnight work on September 29, the contractor will aim to do as much prep work as possible during regular daytime hours to help mitigate noise. Your patience is appreciated during this necessary utility work.
Water Service Disruption:
• As part of this work, the following addresses will be impacted by a TEMPORARY WATER SERVICE DISRUPTION overnight beginning at 11:00 pm on Monday, September 29, through Tuesday, September 30, at 6:00 am:
- Brattle Street
▪ 83, 79-81, 76, 77, 69, 66, 60, 56, 52, 51, 49, 47, 48, 44, 42, 43, 39-41, 40, 33-37, 1-2 - 3 James Street
- 6 Appian Way
- Hilliard Street
▪ 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 19, 17, 15, 13, 9 - Hilliard Place
▪ 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 - 54 – 66 Church Street
- 1 Story Street
- Farwell Place
▪ 7, 17, 10, 14, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24
• AT THESE ADDRESSES ONLY, between these hours of 11:00 am to 6:00 am, water will NOT be available to kitchens and bathrooms, including showers, sinks, dishwashers, and toilets. The contractor will do their best to turn the water on sooner than 6:00 am if possible.
• Note: Disruptions to water service may result in brownish water when the water is turned back on. It is recommended that properties flush their cold-water systems and run faucets until the water runs clear.
• Again, please note that the contractor is seeking permission to use Monday night, October 6, as a contingency date for the work and water shutoff during the same hours should they encounter unforeseen conditions underground or inclement weather that prevents them from working.
• If your address is not listed above, you will not lose water service during the overnight utility work on September 29.
You are receiving this notice of variance request as a direct abutter in accordance with City of Cambridge abutters notice policy. If you should have any questions or concerns, we ask that you contact project representatives at our Construction Mitigation Hotline at (617) 496-0857 or mitigation@csl-consulting.com. We will update abutters during the permit period if City approves the noise variance request.
Sincerely,
Ann Davis
Communications Director
CSL Consulting, LLC