From the Eagle Tribune;
Salem neighbors oppose Atkinson trucking facility
By John Basilesco
jbasilesco@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — They may live in Salem, but Industrial Way neighbors plan to speak out against an Atkinson trucking facility proposal Wednesday night.
Opponents say such a facility would ruin their quality of life. They claim trucks would bring noise, vibrations and odors to their neighborhood at all times of the day, including early morning and late at night.
The owners of P.J. Murphy Transportation Inc. of Methuen, Mass., want to open the trucking facility at 16 Industrial Way. The Atkinson Planning Board will hold a hearing on the proposal at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Salem residents Robert and Ellen Repetto say it isn't what they bargained for when they moved into their house at 8 Christine Lane a year ago.
The Repettos say the Industrial Way facility is supposed to be for light industry, not a 24-hour trucking operation involving trucks carrying fuel oil.
Their neighbor, Christine O'Hara Tremblay of 7 Christine Lane, agreed. She has lived there for nearly 20 years, about 1,500 feet from Industrial Way.
"A 24-hour trucking facility that close to homes is unreasonable," she said.
In a letter to the Planning Board, O'Hara Tremblay said the "proposed truck switching terminal will adversely impact the quality and tranquility of life my family and I currently enjoy in our home."
But Jim Kirsch, Atkinson's code enforcement officer, said zoning rules allow the trucking facility proposed by P.J. Murphy. And, Kirsch said, he doesn't see any issue that should stop it. The Salem residents "are quite a distance'' from the lot where the trucking business is proposed, he said.
The Repettos sent a five-page letter to the Planning Board, outlining their concerns. The couple also provided form letters, which some of their neighbors signed, opposing the plan submitted to the Planning Board.
P.J. Murphy plans to buy the lot on Industrial Way for its trucking facility, Kirsch said. Dickey Corp. now leases the lot and building, Kirsch said. It repairs heavy construction equipment there, he said.
Ten Salem residents, including the Repettos and O'Hara-Tremblay, turned out at a hearing early last month to speak against the trucking facility. That hearing was continued and rescheduled for Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, the neighbors on Christine Lane recently submitted a formal complaint about the lighting coming from the businesses on Industrial Way, which installed security lighting earlier in the year.
Kirsch said he visited their neighborhood at night and determined the lighting wasn't a problem. He said the light couldn't even be seen from three of the houses. At a fourth house, the light could be seen in the distance, he said.
Ellen Repetto took issue with Kirsch's statement. She said the light "shines into our eyes while we're sleeping."
A representative for P.J. Murphy could not be reached for comment Friday.
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4 comments:
Considering the fact that OUR selectmen don't listen to US, let's see how they treat our neighbors in Salem
Depends on how much the trucking company donates to their campaign funds.
But it appears there is nothing in the zoning code to stop it. So the neighbors from Salem will find an activist judge to stop it.
Isn't the trucking firm located on "industrial way?" It makes sense if we have an industry there (what ever that would be). If it was called "Maple Ave" or "Silent Night Lane", I would have second thoughts.
Would this be like someone moving into a home across the street from Canobie Lake park and later complaining that the fireworks at night are too loud?
After a few months of listening do the big trucks, ya think those home owners might join one of the citizen committees? I would be anoyed and do something rather than just move or listen to rumble, rumble, pssssst, honk, honk, air-tool removes wheel, loud Latino voices, rumble, rumble, pssst, psssssssst, roar, crash, growel, honk, honk.
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