It’s a given if you live in the city that the urban lifestyle can be noisy. But a group of south Vancouver residents, who chose their neighborhood for its natural setting, say there is no longer any peace and quiet.
Fraserview townhouse resident Leslie Zien, who likes to head outside on summer days for some fresh air, says she can’t now because the noise coming from Ray-Mont Logistics is “relentless”.
The company, which is just across the Fraser River in Richmond, together with CN Rail, handles containers filled with grain. In the past three years, Vancouver residents who live on the other side of the river south of Marine Drive, say the noise has gotten worse since the company stepped up its operations.
Residents say the banging and clanking from heavy loaders and equipment goes on 24 hours a day, including holidays.
Ray-Mont has been in operation for 23 years in an area that is zoned light industrial. The City of Richmond says the business is needed to grow the local economy.
“We’ve done noise readings and they are in compliance with the city’s noise bylaw in terms of decibel levels where operations are both during the daytime and the evening,” says Ted Townsend, City of Richmond.
“However the owner has been very cooperative and has met with the residents to come up with a resolution.”
No one from Ray-Mont returned Global News request for an interview but Richmond officials say the company plans to pave the property to reduce noise.
The logistics company also recently hired an acoustic consulting company to measure audio levels across the river but regardless of their efforts, the residents are launching a petition to have the hours of operation cut back.
“Vancouver and Richmond have to come up with a solution that works for all of us,” says one resident, Leslie Sien, who is concerned the noise will only get worse.
~ with files from Tanya Beja
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