Janice Scott wants her quiet neighborhood back. Scott lives in the Country Villas
subdivision on Cedar Drive
in Teays Valley, in a
beautiful $300,000 home.
Recently her world has
been rocked by a loud
tractor tearing up dirt behind several homes for
a new housing development over her backyard fence.
Scott says she has had enough of what she says is incessant noise, including the loud sounds of the tractor at 8:30 p.m. during the week.
"It's ridiculous," says Scott. "This is a neighborhood. People deserve some peace and quiet."
The developer, Dencil McGrew, reached by telephone, says the neighbor's complaints aren't justified.
"It's a free country," says McGrew. "I think earning a living no matter what time of day is appropriate. This is a way of life and that's the way it is. Discussing it with anybody isn't going to do no good. This is a 24 hour world."
PutnamLIVE.com took a trip to the neighborhood Wednesday morning at about 8:30. We heard the tractor a block away, and saw it turning dirt within feet of the fences of homes.
It's the age-old argument of progress versus "not in my backyard." Neighbors say they don't mind more homes being built, they just don't want a racket.
John Brown, who lives in one of the homes bordering the project, says he doesn't want to stop anyone from developing their property, but says the tractor shouldn't be running at night.
"It is pretty noisy. He shouldn't run it at night. It bothers the neighbors," says Brown. "But a man has a right to develop his property."
Still, Brown says he has concerns about future drainage and wants to know what workers dumped into holes that were dug in McGrew's land.
Around the corner from Brown, Chuck and Missi Bish own a beautiful country-style home. PutnamLIVE.com photographed the tractor just feet from their backyard fence and children's playground equipment.
"It's very annoying, intrusive and very inappropriate hours," says Missi. "He was out there last night at 8:30."
"I don't know if he is breaking a noise ordinance," says Chuck. "But there should be a law."
Scott sent a letter of complaint to Sandy Mellert with the Putnam County Planning Department. "During the summer months, our family cooks out and entertains guests often, however due to the noise, we are unable to do so. It is maddening!" says Scott. "I am requesting that the zoning board inspect the site to make ensure that it is up to standards as proposed during the April 2006 County Commission meeting as well as assuring that machinery is not permitted to operate after 500 p.m."
"The Scotts say Mellert responded to their letter with an e-mail stating: "At this time, the development is in compliance with the conditions of the resolution. The Planning Commission has no jurisdiction on the hours of operation for a development."
Mellert did not return a call to her office from PutnamLIVE.com seeking comment on the issue. The next day we called her office again.
"Mr. McGrew is in 'full compliance' on this project," says Mellert. "That's a good thing. We inspected the project yesterday."
As for the neighbor's assertions that McGrew has had complaints filed against him in the past, Mellert says, "That's irrelevant to this situation. You can't change the past." Although she concedes, "My office has a long history with Mr. McGrew."
Mellert says at this time she doesn't plan on recommending a noise ordinance to the Putnam County Planning Commission. "That isn't something they are considering," says Mellert.
