Sarnia council has rejected a request for a noise bylaw exemption from the company building a new residential high-rise on the waterfront.
London-based Tricar Group wanted to off-load steel at 275 Front St. N starting at 5 a.m.
Councillor Mike Kelch said that's too early.
"Based on my feeling, 5 a.m. is simply too early to ask people to put up with this," said Kelch.
Council agreed to amend the bylaw for a four-month period starting at 6:30 a.m., and from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays.
"Obviously a lot of people are paying attention to this, especially in the new residences that are in the downtown core -- particularly when you look at how much people have paid to get those residences in the downtown core," said councillor Anne Marie Gillis. "6:30 a.m. I'm sure will probably cause some people some grief, but certainly not from the 5 a.m. perspective."
Tricar is building a 15-storey, 123-unit apartment tower on the former Sarnia Gazette property.
Construction can begin immediately if the developer accepts council's revised exemption.
The city received letters and two petitions from neighbouring residents opposing the developer's request.