Beach Haven council keeps current ordinance on gas-powered construction equipment, urges builders to curb noise

A majority of the Beach Haven Borough Council on Jan. 13 decided not to change a recently enacted ordinance to ban all gas-powered equipment on construction sites, though several members pressed builders to be more considerate of nearby residents.

Council members said the borough is experiencing rapid building activity and that tools such as gas-powered air compressors enable faster, sometimes necessary, work. At the same time, speakers described recurring quality-of-life problems: prolonged generator noise, smells, road debris and airborne fiberglass shards from sanding that they said can damage property and health. “For right now I do not need to… I don't see there's any reason to change this ordinance,” one council member said, while urging voluntary mitigation.

The discussion framed the issue as a trade-off between construction efficiency and neighborhood livability. Council members recommended practical steps to reduce impacts, including asking contractors to avoid running generators during peak hours, ensuring construction sites are cleaned, containing fiberglass sanding work, and using simple enclosures (for example, a wooden box) around job-site generators to dampen noise. Several members said larger builders often adhere to better practices and that smaller contractors may need clearer guidance or enforcement.

No formal amendment to the ordinance was introduced or voted on during the meeting; the council instead signaled it would continue to monitor compliance and encourage builders and code enforcement to pursue mitigation measures. The discussion followed multiple resident complaints and was placed in the context of a recent jump in building permits over the past three years.

The council will not change the ordinance at this time but asked staff to emphasize enforcement and explore practical mitigation guidance for contractors.