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Resident says ongoing on‑site rock crushing and jackhammering near Sandy Woods is harming her health
Summary
At a council meeting, resident Bonnie Strickman described weeks of repetitive jackhammering on a nearby development, said it has aggravated her multiple sclerosis and disrupted her work; councilors agreed to have the building inspector inspect the site and contact the developer.
Bonnie Strickman, a longtime resident of Sandy Woods who identified herself at the podium and submitted a written letter, told the Tiverton Town Council that repeated on‑site jackhammering on a nearby subdivision has made her home uninhabitable at times and harmed her health.
"This has been going on directly across the street from me for over a month," Strickman said, describing 11 lots purchased by a developer with nine currently under work. She said heavy equipment with a jackhammer attachment repeatedly breaks large excavated rocks into smaller pieces on site, and that the noise and unpredictability of that activity have exacerbated anxiety and symptoms related to her multiple sclerosis and disrupted her vocal‑lesson business.
Strickman said she had tried to report the activity and initially was misdirected to another town department but brought a formal letter to the council. She asked the council to revisit the town’s construction and quarrying regulations to limit on‑site rock crushing in established neighborhoods and to consider requiring developers to remove or haul larger stone off site rather than breaking it down in place.
A neighbor, John Lai (55 Terre Verde), said when he developed his property he hauled stone off rather than breaking it on site and questioned why this contractor elected to jackhammer in place. Council members said they would ask the building inspector to visit the property, speak with the contractor and report back. The town noted that general construction hours in Tiverton allow work from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week, which residents said left them little respite.
Councilors acknowledged the resident’s health concerns and the limits of current ordinance language. The council encouraged Strickman to leave her contact information with the clerk and said staff would follow up. No ordinance change was voted on at the meeting; the council directed staff to investigate and report findings to the next meeting.
