JACKSON — Residents will have an opportunity on April 12 to comment on an ordinance that will, if adopted by the Jackson Township Council, prohibit construction and demolition work at certain times of the day.
Township Council President Martin Flemming, Vice President Andrew Kern, Councilman Alex Sauickie, Councilman Stephen Chisholm and Councilman Nino Borrelli voted “yes” on a motion to introduce the ordinance during the council’s March 22 meeting.
The proposed ordinance amends a portion of Jackson’s laws regarding noise and states that no construction or demolition activities will be permitted between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., Monday through Friday.
In addition, no construction or demolition activities will be permitted between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. on weekends and on any federally recognized holiday. This prohibition will be enforced regardless of the noise generated as set forth elsewhere in Jackson’s noise ordinance.
Borrelli said the proposed ordinance addresses a quality of life issue that was brought to the council’s attention during a previous meeting by residents who live near the location where a large commercial development is under construction on Route 537.
“We crafted this ordinance to be reasonable to residents and commercial operators, and that is our hope and objective as Councilman Sauickie has stated. This council has been and will continue to be pro-business.
“To be a thriving town we need to have an active economy which will create jobs, create revenue and create a sense of community residents and visitors can frequent and enjoy,” Borrelli said.
He said the council members understand there needs to be a balance.
“Where progress does not disturb and detrimentally impact the quality of life of our fellow residents who have entrusted us to represent them, who we work for and expect us to lead, and I think this ordinance strikes that balance.
“This council has been proactive as best as possible in resolving any issue that comes before us and laying the groundwork for future councils and even area governing bodies to look at and implement in their towns,” Borrelli said.
He thanked Sauickie for his leadership on the issue and said, “We live in a big town and we can’t see and know everything. We do try our best though.”
Sauickie said the council members wanted to make sure residents know they are being heard.
“When we were discussing what was going on regarding construction, it became very obvious there were common sense changes that needed to be made around the hours in which construction could be performed in town,” Sauickie said.
He said the proposed ordinance is not targeting a specific project.
“While one (project) was discussed at the last meeting, this (issue) has come before the council more than once and I think it has only been by the repeated concerns raised by residents that (council members) realized there was a simple change in not limiting construction based on noise, but by the hours in which (activity) is permitted,” Sauickie said.
