Residents irked at noise coming from shopping center
BY TOYNETT HALL
Staff Writer

Howell

HOWELL - Residents of Bernard Drive expressed their concerns about noise coming from a shopping center near their homes during the Planning Board's April 12 hearing on an application filed by the Howell Friendship Real Estate Co. to construct an enclosed loading dock area in the rear of a planned PetSmart store.

The residents' concerns ranged from what they said is constant truck noise, idling of vehicles and the lack of a sufficient buffer at the existing shopping center on Route 9, as well as the possibility that rodents will be attracted to the area as a result of animal waste that will be disposed of by PetSmart.

Resident Greg Manasso compared the truck noise to the sound of a baseball bat beating against a metal trash can. Manasso, who moved to Howell two years ago, said, "I feel like I have made the biggest mistake of my life moving here. I have a 14-month-old child who has never gotten a full night's sleep. I do not have the quality of life that the other 90 percent of Howell has."

Anthony Regina, who has lived in Howell for 20 years, shared the same concern. He said trucks idle in the rear of the shopping plaza all night. Regina said he is tired of the truck noise.

Charles Longo, the director of property management for Howell Friendship Real Estate, told the board this was the first time he was hearing the complaints from homeowners.

"I will be more than happy to work with the homeowners," Longo said.

According to Howell's certified tree expert Zig Panek, "The existing 6-foot tall fence that is in place does nothing. The fence should be upgraded to 8 feet and that might help to bounce a lot of noise off. It might also help if one row of a good high evergreen buffer is planted. I think we can do something."

A report prepared by Planning Board engineer Ernest Peters recommended that the applicant explain the overall operation of PetSmart, including but not limited to the number of employees, truck/trailer traffic and circulation; a waiver needed to install seven additional parking stalls; the need for a buffer to the adjacent residences along Bernard Drive; the need for safety fencing/barrier separating the proposed construction improvement areas from the daily site operations during construction; and other items.

The applicant's representatives complied with the recommendations, ex-plained the project and received conditional approval in an 8-0 vote by the board members.