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Residents press Livingston council over car-wash noise; attorneys, county and town weigh options
Summary
Residents urged the Livingston council on June 8 to stop persistent noise from the Express Auto Spa behind homes; town attorney said the business offered to fund a sound-attenuation fence and use interim self-monitoring while the township and Essex County consider enforcement strategy and nuisance litigation risks.
Multiple residents told the Livingston Township Council on June 8 that noise from a nearby Express Auto Spa has created an ongoing nuisance, and they asked the township to enforce immediate restrictions while a permanent fix is implemented.
Joyce Armando, who identified herself from Greenwood Court, said residents have endured nearly 10 months of commercial noise from vacuums, air hoses and alarms and criticized the township's reliance on the business to self-monitor. "The people causing the nuisance are now being trusted to police themselves," she said, and asked why temporary restrictions were not imposed while long-term fixes proceed.
Michelle Florio Camp and other speakers described noise as a public-health and quality-of-life hazard and urged the council to take stronger action. Anthony Armando criticized township oversight and urged a more immediate remedy.
Town Attorney Jared Caner outlined prior enforcement steps: Essex County issued a violation; the township met with Express Auto Spa representatives and their counsel; the company offered, at its cost, to hire an acoustical engineer to design a sound-attenuation fence along the rear of the property. "This recommendation was also independently suggested by Essex County as appropriate means of addressing the situation," Caner said. He added the company purchased decibel readers for interim monitoring and has said it will lower pressures on equipment to reduce readings.
Caner explained that the county has primary jurisdiction over noise enforcement and that the township is weighing whether to pursue nuisance litigation. He cautioned that a failed nuisance suit could discourage the company from proceeding with mitigation; conversely, the township is considering options that will secure a lasting solution for nearby residents.
Council members said they were unaware residents felt the problem was ongoing until recent comments and encouraged residents to continue reporting incidents to township staff while the council evaluates legal and enforcement strategies.
No immediate enforcement order (such as temporary shutdown of specific equipment) was issued during the meeting; the council indicated it would continue discussions with county authorities, town counsel and affected residents.
