Council Makes a Move for a Quieter Moorestown

Moorestown, NJ -- Moorestown Council took a step toward a quieter township Monday night.

Council unanimously approved a proposed ordinance on introduction to amend the township's existing noise ordinance at its meeting at town hall.

Council voted 5-0 to put the following limitations in place:

Residential Properties:

a. Commercial, industrial, non-commercial or non-industrial power tools, landscape and yard maintenance equipment shall not be used between 9 p.m. or dusk, whichever comes first, and 8 a.m. on weekdays or weekends.

b. Construction and demolition activities, in a residential neighborhood, shall not be performed between 9 p.m. or dusk, whichever comes first, and 8 a.m. on weekdays or weekends.

Commercial and Industrial Properties:

a. Commercial, industrial, non-commercial or non-industrial power tools, landscape and yard maintenance equipment shall not be used within 250’ of the nearest residential property, between 9 p.m. or dusk, whichever comes first, and 8 a.m. on weekdays or weekends.

b. Construction and demolition activities shall not be performed, within 250’ of the nearest residential property, between 9 p.m. or dusk, whichever comes first, and 8 a.m. on weekdays or weekends.

A change was made to exempt all properties covered by the 2004 Right to Farm Act. The act allows farmers the following rights in order to maintain their business at any time: use of large irrigation pumps and equipment, large trucks and other vehicles, the operation of large slow-moving vehicles and equipment over public roads within the Township of Moorestown, nighttime planting, plowing, irrigation and harvesting, numerous farm laborers, ground seeding and spraying, and the application of chemical fertilizers and products for the control and elimination of insects, pests, weeds, and fungi and other substances injurious to the farming process.

Other exceptions to these rules will include utility and emergency work, and snow removal, although snow removal equipment must be used while using a muffler.

One resident requested an amendment to delay the weekend start time from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., but Township Manager Scott Carew said the time is typically set at 8 a.m. to accommodate contractors, who have less daylight to work during certain times of the year.

A muffler must be used for all motorized equipment used in these activities.

The ordinance was proposed because the township "routinely receives complaints concerning noise resulting from construction, demolition, lawn mowers and other landscape maintenance equipment during hours in which the majority of residents are commonly sleeping or resting," according to the township's website.

The public hearing and final reading is set for April 25.