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Residents urge trustees to act on Dimock Plaza noise, dumpster and odor problems; staff points to online complaint portal
Summary
Multiple residents told trustees that activity at Dimock Plaza — overnight dumpster emptying, delivery trucks using a rear alley, debris and apparent code violations — is disrupting nearby homes; staff encouraged filing complaints through the township’s online portal and accepted photos and police reports for follow‑up.
Several West Chester Township residents used both public comment periods on July 22 to press trustees to address ongoing quality‑of‑life issues at the Dimock Road plaza near Route 42, reporting frequent early‑morning deliveries, loud dumpster activity, debris and unpleasant odors that residents said have gone unaddressed.
Mike Berninger (7545 Christine Avenue) complained that plaza vehicles repeatedly use a rear alley instead of the Route 42 entrance, sometimes in the early morning, producing loud banging and clanging; he told trustees he had photos and video. David Barber (7553 Cecilia Court / 7551 Christine Drive) said the plaza was built too close to houses, described frequent early‑morning moving trucks and trash and said conditions had worsened since the plaza opened.
Barber said some workers at the plaza "don't speak English" and that activity left his yard smelling bad; he urged trustees to take action. Berninger returned during the second comment period with copies of police service calls and said he had contacted the health department and the EPA; staff accepted his materials for follow up.
Miss Brown and other staff members advised residents to submit complaints through the township’s online property‑maintenance complaint portal so code enforcement can create official records and assign inspections. Miss Brown said staff will work with the director of development and legal counsel to review complaints and follow up, and offered business cards for direct contact and to help triage evidence submitted by residents.
Trustees emphasized that formal complaints help staff prioritize enforcement and investigation; staff said many questions are circumstance‑dependent but promised to look into violations that fall within the township’s enforcement authority and to coordinate with county or state agencies as needed.
Next steps: Residents were encouraged to file complaints via the township portal and to send photos and documentation to staff. Trustees asked staff to work with code enforcement and legal counsel to investigate reported items and to report back to residents and the board.
