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Residents complain of noise, dust from tree-service yard; city, DEP and zoning to enforce limits
Summary
Neighbors at a residential block raised repeated complaints about Jake's Tree Service's operations, citing loud mulching machinery and dust; city planning, health and DEP officials said enforcement actions and notices were underway.
Residents of a Chester neighborhood told the City Council on Dec. 18 that operations at a nearby tree-service yard have caused persistent noise and dust that make it difficult to use porches and homes. In public comment, resident Lawrence Thomas said the company continues activities that leave airborne mulch and loud machinery noise, especially on weekend mornings.
City response and enforcement steps: Paul Fritz, the city's director of planning, said planning and zoning staff measured decibel levels at the site and found the mulching machine's noise exceeded permissible zoning noise limits. Fritz said the city would issue an enforcement notice this week requiring Jake's Tree Service either to stop using the mulching machine at its current location or to appeal to the zoning hearing board. Fritz added that the measurement and documentation will support further zoning enforcement.
Health and environmental oversight: Dr. Kristen Motley, a representative of the city bureau of health, said she raised the matter with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which is addressing dust and air concerns through its waste/air teams. Fritz and the mayor said DEP has been conducting site visits and that DEP already inspects the location on a roughly biweekly basis. Fritz said the city and DEP are pursuing a "multi-pronged" approach to address both the noise and dust.
Why it matters: Residents said the site is zoned for industrial use and that homes nearby predate zoning that now leaves residential property adjacent to industrial parcels; neighbors said they were not adequately notified when the business located in the area. Council members and staff described steps to improve neighborhood notice and communication through a planned block-captain program so residents can be alerted earlier about proposed land-use changes.
Quotes from the record: "We were not told that it was gonna be a tree service there," resident Lawrence Thomas said during public comment. Paul Fritz said enforcement will include a notice based on measured decibel exceedances: "...it exceeded the limits, and now we are going to make the owner of that property aware of that, Jake's Tree Service." Dr. Kristen Motley said DEP and the city's health bureau are engaged and that she will follow up with DEP on air-quality concerns.
Next steps: Planning will issue the enforcement notice and give the property owner an option to either cease the noisy operation at that site immediately or pursue a zoning hearing board appeal. DEP will continue its inspections for dust/air issues. Council members said they would pursue longer-term zoning-map reviews to reduce the chance of industrial operations locating adjacent to residences.
Ending: Residents and city officials said they will continue follow-up inspections and enforcement; the mayor asked staff to remain in contact with DEP and to prioritize documentation of ongoing violations so the city can pursue fines or other zoning remedies.
