Neighbors tell council early‑morning truck idling behind plaza is waking homes; council pledges follow‑up

Rochester Hills — Three neighbors described prolonged and repeated early‑morning truck activity behind a shopping plaza that they say is disturbing sleep and creating ground vibrations that reverberate through nearby homes.

Liz Lauia, who said she has lived in Brookdale Woods for 45 years, gave historical context about the site’s evolution from office to retail and described recurring noise and lighting issues from the plaza. “It was designated as commercial or office building… then they changed the zoning into retail,” she said, recounting years of efforts to obtain better screening.

Nina (last name not provided) told the council delivery trucks begin arriving and idling as early as 4:00 a.m. and remain idling until scheduled delivery windows, creating noise she said measures between 60 and 80 decibels and ground vibrations that wake residents. She said the problem worsened during the pandemic and that previous instructions from the city (telling trucks to wait in a different plaza area and posting signage) have not been consistently followed. “They start right at 4:00 a.m. … they sit idling for three hours,” she said.

Don Paul reinforced those accounts, describing continuous compressor noise and intrusive plaza lighting that together make it difficult for residents to use patios or sleep.

Council members acknowledged the issue and described enforcement as the correct next step. Mrs Moli said she will coordinate with the mayor’s office, ordinance staff and the city’s enforcement team; Mr Mueller (representing the mayor’s office) invited residents to speak with him after the meeting to identify actionable next steps. Council members said the enforcement of the ordinance (deliveries not before 7:00 a.m.) falls under executive branch authority and will be pursued.

Why residents want action: neighbors said idling trucks create repeated noise and vibration beginning in early morning hours, and they asked for better enforcement, clearer signage, and consequences for repeat noncompliance. City staff and council members said they would work to improve consistent enforcement and to reengage the plaza owner.

Next steps: staff from the mayor’s office and ordinance enforcement will meet with residents and mall management to identify tangible enforcement steps and timing.

Attribution note: quotes and attributions in this article come from the public comment period and the council response as recorded in the meeting transcript.