A Tennessee trucking terminal has been cited for a public nuisance after cutting down a row of trees that served to shield a nearby neighborhood from the terminal’s noise and lights.
Crown Enterprises owns the trucking terminal located in Smyrna, Tennessee, near the Lake Farm neighborhood. The company recently cut down a row of trees that served as a natural barrier against noise and light for neighborhood residents. Now that the trees are gone, residents say the impact the trucking company has on their quality of life has worsened considerably.
According to Fox17, the trucking company has now been cited for a public nuisance related to outdoor storage and lighting, and a hearing is scheduled for later this week.
“Crown Enterprises has been cited in Municipal Court for violations related to outdoor storage (Section 11-901, disturbance of the peace) and lighting (Section 14-101 – 4.130.9 Lighting),” the City of Smyrna wrote in a public statement.
“The company has reported that it has hired a contractor to resolve the lighting issues and is actively working to restore the site, including chipping and removing fallen trees. City staff have confirmed that debris removal is underway and that follow-up inspections will be conducted throughout the weekend to verify that the lighting adjustments have been completed in accordance with applicable regulations,” the statement continued.
“City staff are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that all work complies with municipal ordinances. We continue to address residents’ concerns and visit the site regularly to ensure that the company is held accountable for its actions and its plans for the future. We are working through all communication channels, with both residents and the company, to avoid the miscommunication that was evident in the company’s initial actions.”
The case will be heard on Thursday, April 23, at the Smyrna Justice Center.
“If you’ve ever woken up at two or three in the morning and heard that beep, beep, beep… the reverse alarms are not at all soothing,” said one resident.
