Sound Barrier Plans Pulled

USA Metal Recycling Development Too Tall For Industrial Zone

LOWELL — The large-scale development plan for a building designed to reduce noise at USA Metal Recycling was pulled from the Lowell Planning Commission agenda Monday at the request of a USA Metal representative.

The building, 79 feet 7 inches tall, which would be constructed around the shredding machine, was too tall by 4 feet 7 inches for the industrial zone.

Tom Smith, chief operating officer of the plant, told commissioners he would talk to his engineer to see if the building could be shortened to the 75-foot height restriction without putting employees in danger and still meet the fire code.

Salena Wright-Brown, commission chairman, said she wasn’t comfortable with that request.

“I would rather you talk to your engineer and come back with a development plan that meets the code. We can’t approve a structure that doesn’t fit the code,” Wright-Brown said.

Smith knew before the meeting the proposed building was out of compliance with the height code.

“I have two options. I’ll talk to the engineer to see if the building will be lowered. If it can’t, I will have to go before the board of adjustment to ask for a variance,” Smith said.

If the engineer says the building can’t be lowered enough to meet code, Smith will have to wait for the June board of adjustment meeting to request the variance.

“It’s too late for him to get on the agenda for the board of adjustment this month,” said Kris Sullivan, Lowell planning director.

“I’m excited about getting started on this project, but if we have to wait until June, then that’s what we will do. I request that the large-scale plan be pulled from the agenda for tonight,” Smith said.

Homeowners in the Southfork subdivision behind USA Metal Recycling have been complaining about the noise coming from the plant almost since the plant opened a few years ago. The proposed building would encase the shredding machine on three sides with the open side face west, away from the subdivision. Smith said the building should considerable reduce the shredder noise.

The plant operates under a conditional use permit. Homeowners have said at several Lowell City Council meetings they want the city to pull the conditional use permit because the noise from the plant is unbearable during the day. The neighbors also complain that the noise from loading railroad cars with scrap metal from the plant is also a concern.

The plant has received two citations for sound ordinance violations in the past year, but city officials said they receive complaints from the Southfork subdivision on a regular basis. No one from the subdivision spoke at the Monday meeting.

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