Upset Redmond homeowners say blasting for development caused damage; city stops work

(Updated: adding Redmond official discussion at city council meeting)

Dry Canyon neighbors claim negligence by developer, city

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The various sounds of construction are what homeowners on Northwest Teak Avenue in Redmond are used to hearing. However, several neighbors say -- and told city councilors Tuesday night -- that some of the work has caused significant damage to their homes, including sunken floors, cracked walls and broken doors.

Developer Hayden Homes is installing infrastructure behind the neighborhood for their project. It has contracted with Quality Blasting and Drilling to blast and drill on the property.

But some homeowners in Redmond's Dry Canyon area are upset and say blasting for nearby housing development has caused significant damage to their homes, and some requirements were not followed. With more blasting planned, they want help from the city. And they made that clear Tuesday night, when city officials also updated councilors and informed them work on a new phase at the site has been stopped by the city.

Mike Caccavano, Redmond's city engineer, said Tuesday the developer does not have a permit to work Phase 3 of the project, nor has work been approved for that area.

He said the city was made aware construction had started on the new phase, without full approval as of yet, but that no blasting took place -- only drilling.

The neighbors described the blasts last month as a similar feeling to that of an earthquake. One resident even caught the blast on camera.

The homes on Teak Avenue are not even a year old.

Neighbors say they were either not informed, or were given a 45-minute notice and urged to stay inside before a blast was to occur.

"I'm concerned about safety issues, damage to my house -- my house is my investment for my future," said Lynn Shofner. "I want and expect things to be done legally and in the proper way, and I expect accountability."

Shofner says a worker on-site told her blasting is much cheaper than drilling, which is why the contractor was doing it.

"I'm not cool or down with a shortcut, if it's going to cause damage to my house," Shofner said.

Todd Jackman's home has several cracks along the exterior base. He's upset that he didn't have enough time to hire an inspector for a review of his property before the work.

"My biggest concern is we moved into a beautiful house that we love, and we didn't expect there to be issues," Jackman said. "And now we have a huge financial risk, and if down the road we want to sell, who's going to be responsible for it?"

The newest home on the block appears to have sustained the most damage.

Mark and Jacqueline Noble moved to Redmond nine months ago, to retire.

"We have such extensive damage to our home, and I can't imagine what's coming next," said Jacqueline Noble. "And for this to happen and to be ignored as if it's no big deal..."

The Nobles have reached out to the city, the developer and the contractor. They're frustrated, saying nothing has been done.

NewsChannel 21 reached out to Hayden Homes and received the following statement:

"Because we live in Central Oregon where lava rock is prevalent, blasting is often required for development. All safety and city requirements were followed for the blasting in question. The City of Redmond has since implemented a new permit process, that will be followed for all future blasting."

"We understand the feelings of our neighbors near Dry Canyon. Our underground infrastructure and blasting contractors are all licensed, bonded, and insured and have a well-defined process for surveying nearby homes before and after blasting, along with using seismic meters during blasting at the closest homes. We take concerns like these very seriously and have already met with a nearby homeowner who expressed concern directly to us and are happy to communicate directly with nearby homeowners to hear and hopefully address those concerns."

City councilors get earful; city stops work, outlines situation

City councilors heard from the homeowners toward the start of their meeting, then from Caccavano and City Manager Keith Witcosky at the end of the night, for an update.

Witcosky said Caccavano had meetings Tuesday with Hayden Homes and the contractors. Caccavano said they started getting complaints late last week regarding the impacts of blasting on homes in the Dry Canyon subdivision, at Northwest Way and Northwest Spruce.

Some confusion arose from the projects two phases. Caccavano said Phase 2 got approval and was tied to the blasting in January.

“Then they did move ahead into Phase 3 without all the approvals in place,” the city engineer said, including drilling but no blasting as of yet.

“We told them to stop the drilling until we have the plans approved,” Caccavano said.

And he acknowledged a new process in which the state Fire Marshal’s Office asked to have the opportunity approve blasting applications, but so new, “they are setting up their process now. Phase 3 of the Dry Canyon will be the first permit they (are asked to) issue.”

Caccavano said those involved are “all good, reputable blasting contractors” who did pre-blast surveys of the houses in question. A homeowner doesn’t agree, he said, but “the contractor says there were cracks there before they did their work. We’re working with them to get an independent engineer.”

The city engineer said the crew put seismographs in place to measure the vibrations, by the house closest to the site. Based on the scale of a 2, with a chance of drywall cracking, and higher than a 4, concrete cracking, “they were getting numbers in the .2 to .4 range. They feel comfortable they did not cause too much vibration at those homes,” but “the conversation is continuing.

But as some councilors noted, a measurement at one, fairly close spot of minimal vibration doesn’t mean that there weren’t higher vibrations at homes farther away.

“This was a big issue way back, when they did the (city’s) initial sewer system” Councilor Ed Fitch said. “It’s not logical, how these vibrations go out. They go out in all kinds of different ways. Really, in my view, the proof’s in the pudding. Nails pop out, cracks – 99% of the time, it’s the blasting.”

Caccavano said they will be talking with the developers about how far out for notice, and where to do pre-blast surveys. "We will get those details before we give them the go-ahead.”

City Councilor Jay Patrick said, “I would just hope they reach out to all those homeowners who expressed issues with the blasting. These people have real problems. I urge the developer and the city, if you will, to at least get out and talk to these people.”

Witcosky assured those discussions will continue – and “we;ll bring the city attorney in, if need be.” And as after that discussion, some of the upset homeowners expressed continued dissatisfaction, that very well may happen.