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Neighbors tell Lower Gwynedd supervisors that middle‑school HVAC noise disturbs nearby homes
Summary
Residents told the township board that a middle‑school air‑conditioning unit moved from the roof to ground level in 2020 is producing loud noise that carries through woods to nearby houses; township staff said the school has performed a noise study and is pursuing mitigation but neighbors asked for more concrete documentation and quicker fixes.
Irene Lewis, a resident of 513 Montgomery Road, told the Lower Gwynedd Township Board of Supervisors on June 25 that an air‑conditioning unit at the nearby middle school has been producing “an incredibly loud noise” since the unit was moved from the roof to ground level in 2020. Lewis said she has recorded the sound on walks near the track field and in the woods and that neighbors have an ongoing thread of emails with school officials seeking a fix.
“Neighbors have been communicating with the school since 2020,” Lewis said, and added she would share recordings with the board. She asked the supervisors for suggestions or help in getting the issue resolved.
Richard Gilly, who lives two houses closer to Montgomery Road than Lewis, described the noise during summer programs as “akin to basically a sawmill operating full‑time” and said he is concerned about whether the level might be harmful to children attending summer camp programs. “My concern is there’s been no sound study that has assessed whether the level of noise … might be harmful to our children,” Gilly said.
Township staff and supervisors said Township Manager Mimi Gleon has been in contact with the school district and that school officials reported they had conducted a noise study, agreed the noise was loud and were pursuing mitigation, including ordering equipment to reduce noise. A supervisor told residents the township’s role is largely to help interface with the school district and “make sure someone hears you,” but emphasized the school district, as a separate government body, is responsible for the unit itself.
Neighbors asked for evidence of the district’s actions and, where possible, a redacted copy of any order or procurement confirming mitigation measures and timelines. Board members advised residents to continue following up directly with the school district’s contacts and said the township manager would continue to update the board and the public as the school’s mitigation work progresses.
No formal township action on the HVAC unit was taken during the meeting; supervisors encouraged residents to continue documenting noise, to provide recordings and to report updates to the township manager so staff can assist in communications with district officials.
